How do Catholic schools help students instill compassion toward their fellow man?

January 26, 2006

"Our daily prayer throughout the school day often includes intentions recognizing those who are suffering, and Catholic Schools willingly discuss social situations deserving compassion in the classroom. To take action, our students regularly collect food, toys, supplies, and money for local organizations such as the food pantry in trying to relieve the needs of others in our community. Hopefully, these practices instill in our students the lifelong gift of compassion for others."

Beanie Bode, science teacher at Bishop Garrigan, Algona

"At Emmetsburg Catholic we try to plan many activities to help students learn the Gospel value of compassion. We offer special intentions daily during our prayer times, make cards for our prayer partners, and make cards for critically ill members of our school community. We encourage students to be compassionate while in the classroom, on the playground, or within the community. Our weekly Mass offers another opportunity to teach our students to be compassionate just as Jesus did."

Diane Smith, 4th grade teacher at Emmetsburg Catholic

"One area Gehlen Catholic School does well in teaching students how to show compassion for their fellow humankind is through helping the poor. The students are taught about people who are less fortunate and how they can help them. Usually through their experiences, the students find we are the less fortunate as the poor give us much more than we give them. The students respond well with their actions."

- Carol Kessenich, Gehlen Catholic School, Le Mars

Catholic Schools instill compassion towards their fellow man through their staff's continual modeling of teamwork. Catholic School faculty share the spirit of giving and charity, show compassion and most importantly, pray together for others. Catholic Schools' instillation of compassion is comparable to a family's display of compassion towards one another.

Pocahontas Catholic Grade School teachers

"There are many ways in which Catholic schools help students instill compassion toward their fellow man. In addition to learning in the classroom, students are given the opportunity to apply these teachings. Some of the many projects RSM students have completed this school year alone include a service day, trick or treating for can goods, adopting families at Christmas time, delivering food to the shut-ins, serving at the soup kitchen, helping send care packages and letters to area servicemen, and traveling to Pine Ridge. The students realize how blessed they are and use their gifts from God by helping others."

Teena Dreckman, teacher at St. Mary's High School, Remsen

"Catholic schools instill compassion in students in their every day living. If a student sees someone hurt he will go to that student and ask if he needs help. Likewise, if someone is by himself at lunch or recess another student will go and ask him if he wants to join them. I see this happen many times at Holy Cross School. The students donate warm clothing and canned goods to those less fortunate than themselves. They have also very generously given monetarily to the victims of the tsunami and hurricanes. These actions show that students at Holy Cross are very compassionate."

Diane Ralston, Holy Cross School, Sioux City

"There are many opportunities to teach compassion in a Catholic School. In the first grade we start every day off with prayer. We take time to list off people who need prayer. The students do such a wonderful job remembering people who are in need. Sometimes it may be their grandparent, a new baby they know, or sick brother or sister. Many times we include people from around the world including the hurricane victims, lost miners, and the men and women in the Armed Services. Also when something happens, we can stop as a school and pray together. We also are able to pray together at our weekly masses.

In a Catholic School we can use Jesus' compassion as a role model for the students and ourselves. We can use Bible stories to illustrate how God wants us to treat people. We teach them the Golden Rule. We can ask our students, 'What would Jesus do?' We try to be a good role model to them also."

Deb Peters, first grade teacher at St. Mary's Elementary, Storm Lake