Humane Education Teaches Compassion
for All

Imagine a world where every child learns about vegetarianism in school. Zoe Weil and Rae Sikora of the International Institute for Humane Education (IIHE) are working to make values education, which would necessarily include consideration of diet and agriculture as integral to the curriculum as math and English are today.

Their goal is to create a more peaceful, joyful world. Humane education has historically been synonymous with companion animal care, but Zoe and Rae integrate regard for all animals' rights with human rights, social justice, economic fairness, and environmental preservation. Thinking holistically reveals the far-reaching impact of individual behavior and opportunities for alliances for change. A veggie burger manufacturer that uses genetically modified soybeans, for example, raises concerns among health advocates and environmentalists as well as for vegetarian consumers composing their shopping lists.

To demonstrate how personal values and social norms relate to all these interconnected issues, Zoe and Rae have developed instructional programs and books. Compassionate Living Workshops give participants tools and information to maintain healthier lives for themselves, the planet, and other beings. Sowing Seeds Humane Education Workshops and the companion workbooks show teachers, activists, and humanity educators how to employ innovative and interactive means to present multi-faceted issues to youth. Zoe and Rae also lead sessions for children and young adults in classroom and extracurricular settings.

While passionate about their mission, Zoe and Rae do not proselytize or tell people what to think, nor do they encourage others to do so. Instead, they adopt and promote an approach of providing information, encouraging critical and creative thinking — helping people to nurture themselves, the planet, and each other.

Professional Humane Educators usually require formal training, but anyone can make a contribution to the cause in his or her daily interactions. We need to set good examples and to reach out non-judgmentally in order to engage others. An inviting tone of voice and thoughtful dialogue reflect a commitment to compassion and motivate interest from friends, family, and colleagues. Aggressive attacks are more likely to prompt resistance.

Because IIHE teaches about our relationships, interpersonal and with the world, educators incorporate information beyond vegetarian or animal advocacy arguments to be effective. Books and websites from different sources present diverse perspectives on other movements for social change. In order to intelligently educate the public, we need to consider all sides of an argument and believe in our proposed solution.

Groups and meetings can provide excellent forums to advance Humane Education. Do you participate in community planning for development and park lands? Are you part of an organization which addresses one aspect of Humane Education while downplaying or ignoring others? If you are a parent, join the PTA and speak out about school lunch choices, dissection of frogs and fetal pigs, and corporate-sponsored classroom materials.

Even if you are shy about talking to people, you can still promote the agenda of humaneness. Offer a program based on films and discussion, or invite a qualified Humane Educator to speak. You can also furnish materials, books, and videos to schools or libraries, or donate money to fund trained Humane Educators who need financial support to offer free presentations.

Maybe you'd like to become a skilled Humane Educator yourself. If so, you might want to pursue formal education to attain the same credentials as teachers in traditional academic disciplines. In addition to the Sowing Seeds workshop, IIHE offers a certification program including modules on animal, environmental, cultural, and human rights issues along with training in communication and presentation. Zoe and Rae have also partnered with Cambridge College in Massachusetts to create the first Master of Education degree with a concentration in Humane Education.

Someday, hopefully, all colleges of education will have Humane Education degree programs and all school systems will provide a course in humane education to their students. You can help move toward that vision for the future with the choices you make today.

For more information on the International Institute for Humane Education, visit <humaneeducation.org> or call (207) 667-1025.