'Empathy classes': Denmark's approach to tackling bullying

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00:00 Kindness on the curriculum. While the teachers tell the class a story, these Danish primary

00:07 school students trace it out on their classmates' backs.

00:12 "The fluffy bear wanted very much to go to Denmark and quickly packed his bags."

00:19 This exercise is part of empathy class, which is mandatory for all students from the ages

00:26 of six up until sixteen.

00:32 The aim is to develop the children's social skills and sense of class cohesion.

00:37 "It lets children get closer to each other. It's so they're not afraid to hug a classmate

00:43 if they feel sad."

00:48 These lessons on empathy and emotional intelligence teach children how to be good classmates in

00:54 the hopes of preventing school bullying.

00:59 The parents are also given guidelines to make sure no child gets left out and to discourage

01:04 exclusionary cliques. Families take the rules to heart.

01:08 "If you're a girl, you can choose either to invite the whole class for a birthday party,

01:15 or you can also choose to invite the girls only. But you cannot pick and choose. The

01:20 school has this focus also on the parents. Hey, remember, don't talk bad about the kids

01:25 or the parents."

01:27 When this mother questions her children on what they would do if they witnessed bullying

01:31 at school, the girls affirm.

01:35 "I would say stop and I would help. And if that doesn't work, we'll go and get an adult."

01:45 As bully classes are starting to make their way to other countries like France, a teacher

01:50 from Paris is observing this session with Danish children.

01:54 "We have to comfort him and tell him that he can play with the others."

01:59 "We try to make sure that the children are happy in the group. And if we keep an eye

02:05 on this, we can nip bullying in the bud. We can learn these lifelong lessons very early

02:10 on."

02:12 Denmark has one of the lowest rates of bullying in Europe, with just 5 percent of 11-year-olds

02:17 saying they've been picked on in the past two months.

02:20 (children laughing)

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