Giving kids - and judges - an emotional GPS

Giving kids - and judges - an emotional GPS

May 29, 2009
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Submitted by: Paula Schwed

 New York Times Columnist David Brooks debunks the idea that decisionmaking should be a rational and not an emotional process in discussing the search for a Supreme Court justice with empathy. Says Brooks: "People without emotions cannot make sensible decisions because they don't know how much anything is worth." He calls emotions "the guidance signals - like from a GPS" - that help us find solutions. Teaching these life lessons at an early age is crucial.

Rising to the Challenge - Mayor Flies High

Rising to the Challenge - Mayor Flies High

May 22, 2009
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Submitted by: Paula Schwed

 So many public officials pontificate from afar about what ails education. Not Joe Riley. This is one mayor who genuinely understands what it takes to make schools better for our kids. So it was no surprise to see him standing in a room full of cheering students this week, trying to remember the words to the WINGS Creed so he could collect on a bet and win a $10,000 donation that will advance social and emotional education. Mayor Riley flies high!

We can't wait until high school - alarming literacy rate

We can't wait until high school - alarming literacy rate

May 18, 2009
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Submitted by: Paula Schwed

At the two high schools attended by most WINGS kids, more than 40% of incoming freshmen read at a 4th-grade level or worse. Translation: they don’t read well enough to  understand the content in their textbooks and keep up in class. The Charleston Post & Courier series about this alarming lack of literacy raises key questions about how best to help these struggling students.

Empathy on the Supreme Court - and Beyond

Empathy on the Supreme Court - and Beyond

May 08, 2009
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Submitted by: Paula Schwed

Empathy - it's not just for Supreme Court justices. President Obama considers this essential trait to be one of the qualifications for whomever he nominates to the highest court in the land. Author Daniel Goleman, who popularized the "Emotional Intelligence" term in a bestselling book, quotes UCLA child psychiatrist Dr. Daniel Siegel as saying empathy is one of the "essential human abilities we should be teaching every child." Of course these