Propelling Children’s Empathy and Friendship

Abstract

Schools play a crucial role in creating supportive and safe environments, and positive feelings are key in fostering such environments. Schools as Learning Communities, based on the dialogic participation of the whole community, are improving social cohesion. However, the underlying processes leading to such transformations remain underexplored. This article suggests that successful educational actions (SEAs) implemented in a school as a learning community, analyzed in this case study, promote positive feelings such as friendship and empathy, contributing to a safe and supportive environment. The purpose of this study was to analyze how SEAs generate friendship and empathy and their impact in the environment in a school as a learning community in Spain. To that end, the methods used were interviews with 18 students and 10 teachers, and reviews of two documentary films featuring the school. Results suggest that SEAs generate friendship and empathy among many children by promoting mutual support and sharing narratives in such dialogic settings. In addition, developing friendship and empathy contributes to reducing violent behaviors and promoting more inclusive attitudes among many students. This study concludes by providing insights on how SEAs can contribute to safe and supportive environments through fostering friendship and empathy.

Beyond the School Walls: Keeping Interactive Learning Environments Alive in Confinement for Students in Special Education

“…An improvement in social relations within the class was also reported as a result of the implementation of online DLGs. This is consistent with other studies that have revealed interactive learning environments to improve both academic improvement (Valero et al, 2018) and friendship relationships among students (León-Jiménez et al, 2020). It is significant in our study that the relationships between students and teachers were not only maintained but also became stronger while doing online DLGs.…”

Democratizing Taste on Classical Music for All

“…This is consistent with previous research that evidenced that classical music tends to be linked with certain cognitive and social barriers that prevent some individuals from enjoying it (Sarasúa et al, 2016) However, among transformative elements, according to respondents, participants of these 9 contexts had learnt musical concepts, while important topics related to participants' lives and experience had aroused through the debate about the music. Previous literature has already pointed out the benefits of dialogic learning in both instrumental knowledge (Flecha & Soler, 2013) and values, feelings and relationships (León-Jiménez et al, 2020). Moreover, in the case of the adult school, it must be added that dialogical spaces such as the gatherings promote wellbeing and friendship among older people (León-Jiménez, 2020).…”

The Impact of One Book About Friendship in the Lives of Readers

“…Friendship has also proven to be a source of achieving meaning in life among young people (O’Rourke et al, 2019). Relationships based on friendship foster supportive and defending behaviors, as well as preventing others from acting in a violent way (León-Jiménez et al, 2020).…”