Teaching Kids Kindness and the Golden Rule

Young people who are violent to animals rarely stop there! Violent acts toward animals have long been recognized by sociologists and criminologists as indicators of a dangerous psychopathy that does not confine itself to animals. Most if not all of the young high-school shooters in recent years tortured animals before they turned on their peers, and the world's most famous and cruel serial killers are known to have mutilated and killed animals in their youth. Teaching students to have empathy for other beings is indeed essential to raising kind, compassionate citizens. Humane education should be an essential part of a student's education as it reduces violence and builds moral character in the following ways:

• Teaching students to take responsibility for their actions
• Helping students to apply the concepts of respect and kindness in their own lives
• Inspiring students to become active participants in helping others

Enhancing a student's understanding that animals are living, feeling beings to be treated with respect and compassion is a very important lesson in empathy and respect for others. Please let us know how we can help you bring humane education into your school!

PETA's two favorite programs to take into classrooms and community organizations are Share the World (for elementary school students) and Just Choices (for middle and high school students). If you are interested in obtaining more information from PETA about either of these programs, please e-mail Info@teachkind.org.

Just Choices encourages students to explore new ideas and reevaluate old ones while developing a strong understanding and appreciation of historical and contemporary social justice movements.

Review the next workshop session.

 

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