Some things just need to be said...

Monday, March 28, 2005

Campbell and empathy in the same sentence?

empathy:

"the ability to share someone else's feelings or experiences by imagining what it would be like to be in their situation"

Compare sympathy (understanding)

"Fund for kindergartners, pre-schoolers to learn empathy."

I did not make this up dear reader. The Campbell Liberal government recently sent out a
media release announcing funding for two programs that assist our young children "develop" empathy. The program was developed by the Vancouver School Board and now is being made available around the province.

There is something ironic (and just not right) about the Campbell Liberal government being associated with the subject of empathy.

Minister of state for early childhood development, Linda Reid says ...
“Helping kids feel connected to each other and showing them how they can be a good influence helps them to become the best people, parents and citizens they can be.”
Monday magazine had this to say about the Campbell Liberal government's media release ...
"Most parents will tell you, however, that kids learn more from the examples we set than from what we say. So it would follow that a paternalistic government that wants to encourage empathy should act empathically, especially when dealing with people in need."
Read more at
Monday

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