Dalton News

High School Students Learn About Cultural Empathy from Visiting Speakers

Representatives from Where There Be Dragons led workshops with High School students to talk about learning empathy through travel and recognizing others’ traditions and cultural differences. 
On Monday, February 3, Where There Be Dragons instructor Colleen Dougherty spoke to 10th and 12th graders about developing empathy through travel. She highlighted the growing body of research about empathy, and, in particular, the focus on trying to develop increased empathy for others. Ms. Dougherty highlighted how global travel allows students to change and reconsider their perspectives on other people and places. Travel also facilitates learning about other cultures and societies, and helps diminish the "us/in group” versus "them/outgroup” mentality that seems to be on the rise in today's society. She shared her experience traveling in Bolivia, Peru, Columbia and in Korea and how her perspective changed after hearing the narratives of others. She spoke of the importance of travel as a way to foster global citizenship.
 
Where There Be Dragons returned to Dalton on Wednesday, February 5 as instructor Jesse Moore led an interactive workshop with 12th graders in Thinking Globally, Acting Locally. During the class, Mr. Moore divided students into separate groups and asked each group to adopt a fictitious cultural identity based off of cultural norms that he provided. Once the groups studied their roles, they were told to interact with other groups while maintaining their group’s identity. After the exercise, the class shared their thoughts and perceptions about the other groups which evolved into a larger discussion about ethnocentrism and discerning the difference between perceived behavior and underlying values and beliefs.
 
Story submitted by Director of Community and Global Partnerships Yom Fox
 
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