This week you will be teaching your students about Confucius, or more specifically, The Analects. While there are a lot of different concepts that Confucius wanted to emphasize to his followers, it can all be summed up into one simple phrase: “Treat others how you want to be treated”. Also known as The Golden Rule.

This concept has been around for centuries and is so elementary that we teach our children about it from an early age. One way to get this message across was from watching Sesame Street.

We all remember sitting down in front of the television and learning about how to love our neighbors and find harmony among all of our differences. That is no different than the teachings of Confucius. He taught about the importance of humility, integrity, balance, and filial piety (respect for one’s elders). These are basic concepts displayed on Sesame Street as well! Sesame Street taught kids the outcomes of their actions and showed them that they should treat everyone around them how they wish to be treated.

While Confucius was all about how to be the ideal person while rooting himself in finding harmony in all parts of life as well as sticking to ritual, Sesame Street focuses on how to be a kind and decent person starting at a young age. The goal is the same,the method of teaching is a little different though.