Who Cares? We all Should!

Care about the Person You Teach

When they know you care, they care to learn.

How much do you think you could learn from a person who you knew didn’t care much about you or your success? Do you even want to hear what they have to tell you? What if you knew your friend’s child’s sports coach didn’t care about the team or their success? That the coach just got thrust into a role they didn’t really care for? Would you want that coach for a child you love?

The Science I Explored

Matthew Lieberman answers Gareth Cook’s questions on connections:

“Across many studies of mammals, from the smallest rodents all the way to us humans, the data suggests that we are profoundly shaped by our social environment and that we suffer greatly when our social bonds are threatened or severed. When this happens in childhood it can lead to long-term health and educational problems.”[1]

A Situation

A teacher comes to work every day with lessons planned and executed. The teacher is very thorough. The teacher does not inquire about hobbies of students. Students can return to school after long weekends and the teacher does not inquire about their activities or family life. The class operates quietly and smoothly, with class rules enforced. Some students are doing great. Others are just not doing well. The teacher has talked to colleagues and tried different approaches. The struggling students are not diagnosed with any learning disabilities. Can the teacher help them through to success?

Caring about Your Students

Caring about your students is mainly about human bonds. Ask children about their weekend and listen to their answer. Ask parents how they feel and listen to the answer. Show up to an event your student invited you to. Have conversations with children and families about topics other than schoolwork, and listen.

Create a reason to host a family gathering and talk to families. Connections between humans are important and foster trust and empathy. Just be a caring person to your students.

Hold on, don’t get a savior complex! That is not your job. But you can listen. Say it with me: “I’m listening because I care.” Watch for eyes of connectedness when your students share with you.

Quote

As human beings, we each have a responsibility to care for humanity. Expressing concern for others brings inner strength and deep satisfaction. As social animals, human beings need friendship, but friendship does not come from wealth and power, but from showing compassion and concern for others.

—Dalai Lama

[1] Gareth Cook, “Why we are wired to connect,” Scientific American, Updated October 22, 2013, https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/why-we-are-wired-to-connect/