Teaching Acts of Kindness will Build a Brighter Texas Future
When people say they want a good education for their children, what are they referring to? Of course, it’s universally agreed upon that a solid education in math, reading and writing and other subjects are critical for our children’s future careers. These practical skills are what people generally think of when they hear the word ‘education’. However, there is another component to education which is just as important for preparing our children for leading happy lives and living in harmony with those around them. It’s instilling kindness. This is what the Biden White House, Governor Greg Abbott, and the Texas Senate and House of Representatives acknowledged when they recognized Education and Sharing Day on April 2 of this year.
Education Day
Education Day–which has been observed annually since 1978 as a testament to the work of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson–emphasizes the importance of kindness, self esteem, ethics and good values in a child’s education. Governor Abbot’s proclamation stated education is “a holistic process whereby each individual develops his or her full potential in order to build a better world.” President Biden implored educators and parents to “prepare our children to be tolerant, curious, and moral, ensuring that they lift up others as they rise.”
Vision
This is a lofty vision – to create children who develop their potential, build a better world and uplift others. How can we go about shaping our children into such role models? In my two decades of working with young people, I have noticed that the simplest way to empower and develop a child’s potential is to educate them to engage in routine acts of kindness. These can be small, such as smiling at a stranger or putting a coin in a charity box or large, such as helping a sick friend or volunteering in a soup kitchen. Incorporating acts of kindness in education empowers kids to be leaders and builds their self-image as helpful people who make a positive impact in the world. It also creates an environment where kids stand up for each other and don’t engage in bullying or harassment.
Kindness
In a world where there are endless messages of divisiveness and hate, teaching our kids the importance of acts of kindness will restore a badly needed sense of compassion and empathy within them. The Book of Psalms teaches that the world was “created with kindness.” A traditional Jewish take on this verse is that it is our job as humans to continue creating a kind world through our good deeds and interactions with others.
Compassion
To build a more compassionate state where people care about one another and take care of each other, let us strive to instill the values of kindness, empathy, and understanding in our children. The Rebbe taught that “compassion means feeling the pain of others and taking action to alleviate it.” This is a powerful message that shows we can’t just have pity or acknowledge others’ pain. To be truly compassionate, we need to take actions that are helpful to the person in their struggle.
Texas Spirit
By doing so, in the Texas spirit, we foster a sense of community, where it is our responsibility to help those around us be happy, healthy and looked after. This is the message of Education Day that we must pass on to our kids. Then we will bring the world one step closer to a state of peace where “nation shall not lift the sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore.” (Isaiah 2:4)
