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Empathy Program in Spotlight for Middle School PTA

SCARSDALE, N.Y. – Empathy will be front and center at the year's first meeting of the Scarsdale Middle School Parent Teacher Association.

The Roots of Empathy classroom program employed at Scarsdale Middle School began in 1996 as an anti-bullying effort. According to its website, The Roots of Empathy is an evidence-based classroom program that has shown significant effect in reducing levels of aggression among schoolchildren while raising social and emotional competence and increasing empathy.

Principal Michael McDermott will chronicle the evolution of the school's focus on empathy from the anti-bullying efforts to the most recent projects and curriculum work that illustrate the power of empathy in a school culture. According to a PTA press release, the audience will learn about the recent research on the evolutionary roots of empathy as well as the importance of developing pro-social skills in students.

McDermott developed this presentation, titled "The Roots of Empathy: One School's Story," at the request of the guidance staff at the Horace Mann School. It was delivered to faculty and students there last spring.

The program will be presented at 7:15 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 25, in the Scarsdale Middle School band room.

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