Compassionate Educators Gifts

'Your x-ray shows an enlarged heart. It's nothing to worry about. All teachers have a big heart.'

Charities should investigate whether published reports are 'Misleadingly Positive'.

Prejudice/Empathy

Pet Shop - Parrot labeled as 'Good Listener'

"We'll less than two metres again, don't know where, don't know when..."

"I pick up on people's pain, Alexander. What's wrong?"

"There's my very first school - where I learned how to hug."

"Don't judge me until you've walked a mile on my medication."

"No, those people aren't anorexic. Those people are starving."

'I'm freezing...The rich list is a little thin this year.'

Still looking for your inner-grown-up, Harold?

"I feel your pain...At home in Europe I also work 14 hours a day in my factory..."

Warring parents

"I've found my voice, Penny. It's deep, wise, and compassionate."

No safe haven

"If you're going to write I think you have to draw upon your own experience."

Immigrating to the City

"I knew there'd be pitfalls when I became a teacher, but thirty to a classroom is too many."

'Apart from illiteracy, low self esteem, homelessness, poverty and a broken home. I can't find any reason for his offending behaviour!'

"Luckily the days are long gone when we just labeled people as "mad"'

"Unbelievable! Why isn't anybody doing something against the awful dog poverty?"

'It's such a nice day. Why don't you go outside and tease another girl until she develops an eating disorder.'

"Oh, hello darling..."

Beaten up man to Good Samaritan: 'Thank you. My insurance doesn't cover roadside service.'

'Please sir, I did give you the correct answer. But, you gave me the wrong question.'

Africa

"How do you expect me to have empathy for the poor and walk in your shoes when your shoes when you're not wearing any."

"Is it just me or does the price of the milk of human kindness keep going up?"

The Minor Issue

'Sidestep the real issue $5'

"I've got a patient who needs to chat to someone. . . Have you got anyone who's completed the 'verbal communication with patients in a personal, supportive but not disempowering' course?"

"It's his first day of school!"

'It's outrageous to be labelling people 'bonkers' in this day and age...put this one on instead.'

"Thank you sir. Here is your receipt."

"Sometimes while eating in the classroom, I think about writing a children's book, which would begin, "Once upon a time there was something called a teachers' lounge. . .'."