You may find evidence of how people practice and show kindness by what they do on a regular basis. For example, you might see it when one young child gives his or her seat to another child while eating lunch, when a peer stops so that the new player catching up has time to join in on play at recess, or when students ask thoughtful, considered questions instead of making rapid-fire assessments about others.
Photo by Charlein Gracia on Unsplash
These examples demonstrate the beginning of how people develop into global citizens through everyday practices that recognize others’ humanity.
How Schools Create Community That Teaches Beyond Just Acceptance
Schools don’t just teach academics; they also create environments that affect the type of community your child enters each day.
Students grow up understanding that people have varying forms of learning, speaking, moving, thinking, and expressing themselves differently within an inclusive school environment. Children form attitudes toward differences in their lifetime based on exposure to them during childhood. Thus, if your child is raised in a respectful environment of inclusivity, there is less likelihood that they will fear it later.
Children Develop Empathy by Repetitive Practices Each Day
In an inclusive school environment, your child doesn’t just hear that kindness is important. He or she sees kindness practiced every day in actual scenarios. As a result, they develop the ability to understand that each individual carries a unique set of experiences, and thus it takes courage (not weakness) to show consideration towards others.
There are also other reasons some parents may judge a school based on their overall “culture” rather than the content of the curriculum. For instance, KIS International School is an example of creating safe environments in which family units can go through the process of finding educational institutions providing students with global perspectives as well as deep humanistic values while developing compassionate little humans.
The Classroom Is Where Global Citizenship Begins
A global citizen is defined as more than an individual who can name various capitals around the world or study international topics. Rather, it is defined as an individual who is able to interact successfully with others whose backgrounds, accents, belief systems, and life experiences differ greatly from theirs.
In today’s workplace, community organizations, and schools, leadership positions, business relationships, and working across cultures will all require an individual to be respectful. Your child is likely going to have to participate in a team made up of individuals from many different backgrounds or lead a group of individuals who may have many different views than their own. If you want them to be successful in such a position in the future, it would serve your child to go to an inclusive school where they can learn about being respectful on a daily basis by experiencing how others are treated before the world at large requires them to do so.
If your child attends an inclusive school, he or she has the opportunity to grow in an environment that allows for a safe place to develop and practice being respectful until it is second nature.
Belonging Creates A Kinder Future
When children feel they belong, they are more receptive to learning. When they witness others being included, they tend to be more altruistic and open-minded regarding how they navigate the world.
That is truly the underlying purpose of inclusive education. It creates not only more successful students but also more compassionate humans.
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