The Compassionate Educator

Book excerpt: With the ever-increasing diversity and social complexity in Canadian classrooms, teachers need to understand and respond to current social issues from a place of compassion. This insightful contributed volume brings together leading academics from across Canada to discuss the evolution of student populations in Canadian schools, exploring the social issues that affect students’ lived realities. Using a student-centred methodology, the authors examine a wide range of critical topics, including mental health, Indigenous education, queer education, racism, youth radicalization, disability, religious responsiveness, high-poverty schools, teacher-parent communication, English-language learners, and refugee student support. Readers learn how to navigate difficult situations in the classroom with empathy and a thoughtful, informed ethics of care, and to consider the distinct experiences and sociocultural realities that inform students’ actions. Encouraging critical reflection and a deeper understanding of diversity, The Compassionate Educator serves as a vital resource for students in teacher education programs and for practicing educators across Canada.