Heartful Education. Benefits from Teaching Unity in Schools

Several papers indicate the benefits of an educational model based on the teaching of values, character strengths, and both academic and non-academic contents. In this paper, we proceed to review the most significant and relevant articles regarding this holistic educational approach which considers the spiritual heart as a fundamental pillar to connect mind, body, and spirit. The concepts of heartful education, values and character strengths are examined, to stress the need of a new and innovative approach in education that considers teaching unity in schools as a method to provide a type of education that intends to cover the whole spectrum of learners’ needs. It is claimed in this article the benefits of providing such educational model and it is also suggested the possibility to create a subject named “unity” within the schools’ curriculum so that learners are consistently reminded of the countless aspects that they all have in common. This paper shows the conclusions and beneficial repercussions of this holistic and heartful educational approach.