A. Ragnauth: Expanding the Frame

Let’s be honest, the last book I read was James and the Giant Peach in third grade. As you can tell reading hasn’t been at the top of my priority list. However, my friend has read 45 books for 2025, so you can imagine my surprise when Hari says ” The proportion of Americans who read books for pleasure is now at its lowest level ever recorded” (80). I always thought I was the odd one out for not reading but turns out its’ actually my friends.

My mind was also blown to realize reading books is the equivalent to reading emotions. While Hari says this word for word, he adds “… reading fiction over time, boosts your empathy” (89). Empathy is a concept I’ve always found lacking in myself. While I can understand someone’s perspective, I do struggle. I hate to state the obvious, but James and the Giant Peach did not give me the emotional intelligence needed in order to survive in today’s society. Still, tough conversations and emotions are a part of my job description as a teacher. This only makes sense, they’re teenagers.

My eyes opened when my coworker, an English teacher and I shared the same student. Our student poured her heart out to my co-worker. She shared all the details of what she was going through, however, with me I was only able to see glimpses of those emotions. I saw the sadness sometimes in her designs, body language, and facial expressions, but that was all I ever got. That too, not intentionally. Now this could be from the simple fact that I was her graphics teacher or maybe the vibe of our class didn’t exactly scream tell me all of your secrets and she felt more comfortable sharing her story in english because that’s what English is all about. To be honest, my English teacher friend is everything I am not. Empathetic is her middle name. I’ve seen it all the time, the way she’s able to make people lower their guard around her, consideration that goes beyond the surface and more.

This makes me wonder how much empathy shapes my classroom. I may not always have students verbally tell me their feelings, but empathy is more than just a verbal understanding. It’s taking the time to notice how their emotions are reflected in their designs, whether that’s through theme, color, images etc. Similarly, Hari explains “When you read fiction in particular, you imagine what it is like to be another person” (88). As designers, my students are expected to design not for themselves but for others. In CTE, the goal isn’t just having students master a skill, but it’s about having them comprehend the purpose behind those skills. My students are expected to consider their audience when designing, this includes making intentional choices that reflect the needs of them. Empathy whether invoked through reading or created through design is what allows us to fully connect with those around us.