BUILDING A CULTURE OF COMPASSION IN THE CLASSROOM

A positive classroom climate supports learning. A compassionate classroom culture helps to address the socioemotional
needs of learners. This helps learners to realize that they are valued members of their class and makes
every class a precious space for connecting and collaborating. This study surveys how teachers contribute to
creating a classroom culture of compassion. It looks at some challenges faced by teachers in the same and
attempts to identify healthy practices followed by teachers to build a culture of compassion. A convenience
sample of 20 high school teachers was selected. The overall efforts put in by teachers to build a culture of
compassion are significant. The study reveals that syllabus completion and influence of media on students are
the most prominent challenges perceived by teachers. Few schools have structured programmes to
institutionalize practices that promote a healthy ethos for compassion. Thus it is seen that teachers are aware of
their role in building a classroom climate that supports socio emotional learning and they also work towards
enhancing a robust climate. However they need support from their institutions in terms of training for socio
emotional learning strategies. Efforts also need to be made to share stories of success so that all schools can
work towards building a compassionate classroom culture.