TAMPA, Fla. — Students at Hillel Academy in Tampa are on the path toward a new curriculum where kindness is key.
Administrators have now developed a new program to teach kindness and compassion to all students in an effort to combat hate and antisemitism.
Each day, Hillel Academy students learn about inclusion, love and empathy or chesed. It’s taught not just as a core value but as an actual part of the curriculum.
“There’s really a lack of kindness going on in our world,” said Allison Oakes, the head of school for Hillel Academy. “And we’ve decided to make an effort to teach our children how to be kind to one another so that as they become the future leaders of tomorrow, they’ll be more compassionate and empathetic.”
It’s a message already sticking with students.
“It teaches people to be kind to others and then they’ll pass kindness on,” said Lauren Viders, a fourth-grade student.
“Peace could be saying, come over, I can help you,” another student told her teacher in a classroom discussion.
Administrators hope this gives kids hope and confidence for a brighter, kinder future.
