Teaching Empathy: Harley School's Hospice Class

How a High School Hospice Class Teaches Empathy

At The Harley School in Rochester, New York, seniors can enroll in a unique elective called "Hospice." Many students sign up without fully understanding the profound impact it will have on them—and none leave unchanged.

The Life-Changing Experience of a Hospice Class

This groundbreaking course exposes high school students to end-of-life care, challenging them to confront mortality while developing deep empathy skills. The class was documented in the Emmy Award-winning film Beginning with the End by filmmaker David Marshall, who followed the program for two years.

Key Lessons from the Hospice Program

• Facing mortality at a young age helps students appreciate life more deeply
• Direct interaction with hospice patients builds emotional intelligence
• Empathy can be taught through structured experiences
• Life perspective shifts occur when confronting death meaningfully

Why This Program Matters for Youth Development

Research shows that:
1. Early exposure to compassionate care builds emotional resilience
2. End-of-life experiences foster gratitude and purpose
3. Mindfulness practices combined with hospice work enhance self-awareness

This program was featured in Mindful magazine's February 2014 issue ("A Matter of Death and Life") as an innovative approach to social-emotional learning.

The Lasting Impact on Students

Former participants report:
- Improved communication skills
- Greater emotional maturity
- Changed career aspirations toward helping professions
- Enhanced ability to process grief

This transformative class proves that empathy education belongs in schools, preparing students not just for college, but for life.