What is Humane Education and why is it important?
Humane education encourages empathy and an understanding of the need for compassion and respect for people, animals, and the environment and recognizing the connections among these. The primary goal of each program is to identify animals as being worthy of kindness and to encourage people to act responsibly and be compassionate to their own pets and other animals they may encounter.
Research has repeatedly shown that children who are unkind to animals or who are raised in homes where animals are abused are particularly likely to be abusive to animals and humans over time. In providing humane education programs, the ARL hopes to model an appropriate, respectful, and mutually rewarding relationship between humans and animals.
How can I schedule a time to have an educator present to my K-12 classroom?
The ARL will send a humane educator to your classroom for a lesson tailored to your students’ grade level and topic of interest. The primary goal of our classroom programs is to provide engaging content that educates students about issues related to pet responsibility and animal welfare. While some programs include an appearance by a companion animal, participants should not expect significant animal contact as part of these presentations. All programs are 45-60 minutes unless otherwise specified. We do require that groups provide a classroom presentation space, a small table for presenter's materials, internet access, and a screen for presentation. Programs can accommodate up to 50 students, however, programs can be scheduled back-to-back to accommodate larger groups. Cost is $50. Des Moines Public Schools and most Des Moines educational facilities may qualify for a free program.
To register your classroom for a presentation, click here.