What is Humane Education All About

[Guest guest]

I will not take credit for this article, I am not sure where it came from,

but somehow it was sent to me in e-mail. I felt I should pass it along to

you, because Humane Education is an important part in all our lives!

 

WHAT IS HUMANE EDUCATION ALL ABOUT?

 

Definition

Humane education may be described and defined in many ways. Essentially, It

is a process that highlights the need for compassion and respect for all life

and all ecosystems by recognising the inter-dependence of all living things.

 

The Process

It is a process that strives to create and nurture a culture of empathy and

caring by stimulating the moral development of individuals to enable them to

become compassionate, responsible and just citizens. It is a process that

relies on introducing students to facts and realities as well as to feelings,

thoughts and emotions. Students’ cognitive, affective and behavioural

patterns are actively engaged in the process.

 

Why are humane education programs more important than ever before?

Unfortunately, the world has always been torn apart by violence, cruelty and

exploitation. However, the consequences of these phenomena today are so

endemic that communities and indeed whole societies are being rendered

dysfunctional. The cost to society is too great.

 

From the animal protection perspective, humane education has the potential to

serve as a long-term, cost-effective strategy that could produce a lasting

and large-scale improvement in the quality of animals’’ lives. Recent

research shows quite clearly that In so doing, it can also serve as a major

means of preventing animal abuse and many forms of child abuse and domestic

violence. The link between animal cruelty and criminal behaviour is currently

drawing increased attention to the humane education movement.

 

Implementing the process

Humane education initiatives may be delivered in many different ways. These

fall into two main categories: informal and formal.

 

Informal methods include public education and political lobbying campaigns

run by animal and environmental advocacy groups. Changes in attitudes and

behaviour have often been successfully achieved as a result of well-run

campaigns on specific issues. Also included in this category are the efforts

of concerned individual educators to raise students’ awareness of these

issues within existing school subjccts. Books, magazines and TV programs are

also valuable tools but these may reach fewer individuals than can more

formalised approaches.

 

Formal humane education programs in schools and tertiary courses are

especially important since these represent the main vehicle for reaching the

greatest numbers of individuals and for influencing attitudes and behaviours

of the next generation of citizens. Formalised humane education initiatives

are mandatory in 18 States in the USA and the number is increasing.

 

Anticipated outcomes

The humane education process introduces students to an understanding of their

own needs, feelings and reactions as well as to those of others. It

encourages students to think critically about the consequences of their

actions in a wide range of environments by linking their learning to an

understanding of human and animal welfare and environmental issues.

 

Furthermore, well designed programs sensitise both students and educators to

various social philosophies and life styles as well as to the many attitudes

and behaviours that human beings exhibit towards the rest of the natural

world. Students come to understand the ethical dilemmas generated by these

different philosophies and life styles and they are better able to make

informed judgments and take compassionate action. Humane education programs

also promote critical thinking and problem solving as essential tools for

dealing effectively with the issues raised.

 

Humane Education materials

Every single curriculum subject is capable of reflecting a humane ethic.

Humane education does NOT need to be taught as a separate subject in an

already crowded curriculum. Numerous organisations provide many reasonably

priced materials suitable for use at all levels.

 

Animals Australia’s Humane Education Division can assist teachers and

students by supplying a range of services including:

an annotated list of humane education web sites

an annotated list of animal welfare web sites that include a humane education

component.

 

Information on the latest alternatives to harmful animal use in school &

tertiary programs, including computer programs, virtual reality & other web

sites, reference books, CDRoms, electronic databases, videos.

Brochures & fliers that promote the humane ethic

Access to ready-made humane education materials in the form of classroom

activities, whole units on particular topics, books and other print material

all of which may need little or no modification to be immediately useable

Access to a network of interested educators who implement the humane ethic in

their programs

 

--------------