News

Add "UnSelfie" to YOUR Summer Reading List!

By: Annie Hasselgren
Join our faculty and staff in reading this summer's book: "UnSelfie: Why Empathetic Kids Succeed in Our All-About-Me-World."
Again this year, Mr. Mufson has given a book to our staff and faculty for summer reading. In the summer of 2015, some of you might remember that it was The Big Disconnect: Protecting Childhood and Family Relationships in the Digital Age by Katherine Steiner Adair. At the start of the school year, Mr. Mufson held a group discussion in the Aftercare Room for parents and community members who had read the book or were interested in the topic. We are reviving that event again this year!
 
This summer, our book is titled Unselfie: Why Empathetic Kids Succeed in Our All-About-Me World by Dr. Michele Borba. Dr. Borba lays out how and why people with empathy are happier and more successful in life and explains what parents and educators must do to reverse the “empathy crisis” among children today—including a 9-step empathy-building program to guide kids from birth into adulthood.
 
The author states that teens today are 40 percent less empathetic than they were thirty years ago, which explains the self-absorption epidemic she terms Selfie Syndrome. So, why is a lack of empathy so dangerous? Dr. Borba names several reasons: 1) It hurts kids’ academic performance; 2) it can lead to bullying behaviors; 3) it tends to correlate with more cheating and less resilience; and 4) as grown ups, a lack of empathy hampers one’s ability to collaborate, innovate, and problem-solve—all must-have skills for succeeding in a global economy.
 
Thus, an issue of this gravity should be taken to heart here at school. Mr. Mufson will hold a group discussion on Unselfie and the topic of encouraging empathy in our children in mid-September. We will announce a firm date in a few weeks. For more information, please contact Annie Hasselgren at ahasselgren@countryschool.org or 410-822-1935 x130.
Back

Recent News

List of 5 news stories.

  • Kindergarten Students Serving Others!

    Kindergarteners have been participating in a 3 part HOHO (Helping Others; Helping Ourselves) project lead by Ferris and Laura Butler. Students packed boxes to be shipped to veterans and their families. The boxes 
    were filled with child friendly, donated items. Also in the boxes were handwritten letters from the students along with a handmade American flag craft. The Butlers carefully orchestrated this project, and we are very grateful for their time and efforts.
  • Spring Athletic Award Winners

    Congratulations to all our spring athletics award winners and to all our Cougar athletes who participated in sports and clubs! This spring, TCS offered Boys’ and Girls’ Lacrosse, Pickleball Club, Running Club, and Volleyball Club. Providing so many athletic opportunities took a village—thank you to our amazing coaches, volunteers, and parent drivers for making it all possible! And thank you to our students for setting an example of dedication and sportsmanship!
    Read More
  • Summer Trips for Upper School Students in 2025

    It is with great excitement that The Country School announces the addition of 2025 summer trips for our Upper School students!
     
    Read More
  • The Country School Celebrates 90 Years and Installs Jay Parker

    The Country School is proud to be celebrating its 90th school year. This milestone year also marks the beginning of a new chapter with the appointment of Jay Parker as the 7th Head of School.

     
    Read More
  • Conversation & Homecoming - Saturday, February 24, 2024

    The Country School, Talbot County Free Library, and the Avalon Foundation, sponsors, join with fourteen other community organizations to present Conversation & Homecoming with Carole Boston Weatherford and her son, Jeffery Boston Weatherford, a program free and open to all.
    Read More
News Archive
© 2017 The Country School. All Rights Reserved.
The Country School does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, age, gender, nationality, ethnic origin, or sexual orientation in the administration of its educational, admission, and employment policies, or its financial aid, athletic, and other school administered programs.
716 Goldsborough Street, Easton, MD 21601 • 410.822.1935