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The Golden Rule

Peace begins at home.  By teaching our children the Golden Rule:

Do Unto Others As You Would Have Them Do Unto You

we set the foundation for respect, empathy, perspective taking, and kindness.  In the children’s book, The Golden Rule by Ilene Cooper, the grandfather goes for a walk with his grandson and they discover the words of the Golden Rule posted on a wall.  Further down the road, they see another billboard  with the Golden Rule written in a different way:

Do nothing to other people that you would not like having done to you

He explains that this message is across all religions (the author adds a note at the back of the book that she has simplified the language):

Christianity: Love your neighbour, as you love yourself.

Judaism:  What is hateful to you, do not do to your fellow humans

Islam:  Hurt no one so that no one may hurt you

Hinduism:  This is the sum of duty: to do nothing to others which would cause them pain

Buddhism:  Do not do to others what would hurt you

The Shawnee Tribe:  Do not kill or injure your neighbour, for it is not he or she that you  injure; you injure yourself

The boy then asks how he can start to practice the Golden Rule.  His grandfather advises him to use his imagination.  Imagine how someone else feels.  “For instance, a new child who is  joining your class. How do you think that boy or girl is feeling?” “New kids always look scared.”  Would you be scared if it was you?” “Oh yes.” “What would make you feel better?”  “If someone smiled at me.”  “So to practice the Golden Rule, you would…” “Smile at the new kid?” (p.11-12)

He also gives an example of thinking of ways you wouldn’t want to be treated.
“How do you feel when you’re teased? or bullied?”  “Sad.” “Yes.” “Mad.” “Yes.” “Small. I feel small.” “Sad, mad, small.  Do you like feeling like that?” “No.” “Neither does anyone else.” (p.13)

The boy then realizes many applications of the Golden Rule:  “There are lots of things I can do.  I should tell the truth because I don’t like being lied to.  I want people to listen to me, so I should listen to other people.  When I’m sick, or when I’m tired, sometimes I need help.  So I should offer my help to those who need it.” (p.14) (Ultimately we want to teach our children to give because they want to and not because they expect something back, but this is a developmental stage. The first stage is understanding the Golden Rule by imagining the reciprocity effect.)

The boy then realizes that not everyone in the world is practicing the Golden Rule, and if they were, then maybe there wouldn’t be wars.    The grandfather explains that this would be wonderful, but you can’t make everyone in the world practice the Golden Rule.  He asks, who is the only person that you can ask to practice the Golden Rule?  “Me?”  Yes, “You it begins with you.”

This would be a wonderful book to read together as a family at a family meeting, or another gathering time.  It would also be a strong teaching tool for a school assembly or classroom discussion.  Once the Golden Rule has been introduced, then the prompt “So to practice the Golden Rule you would…” is an effective way to keep the concept reinforced.

Peace to you and your family,

Warmly,

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