Defining Humane Education

Humane Education, which began more than one hundred years ago, initially focused on the humane treatment and protection of companion animals. Today Humane Education has evolved to teach compassion for all living beings as well as environmental ethics and human rights while revealing how interconnected the issues are. In 1933, the National PTA Congress issued the following statement in support of Humane Education that is still relevant today with respect to animal and human issues:

“Children trained to extend justice, kindness and mercy to animals become more just, kind and considerate in their relations with each other. Character training along these lines will result in men and women of broader sympathies, more humane, more law-abiding - in every respect more valuable citizens.

Humane education is the teaching in schools and colleges of the nations the principles of justice, goodwill, and humanity toward all life. The cultivation of the spirit of kindness to animals is but the starting point toward the larger humanity that includes one’s fellow of every race and clime. A generation of people trained in these principles will solve their international difficulties as neighbors and not as enemies."

Humane Education Laws

New York is one of a number of states that has an education law requiring instruction in humaneness toward animals. The Humane Education Act was passed in April 1917, thanks to the efforts of Mrs. Ellin Prince Speyer and other women who sat on the New York State Humane Education Committee. (see the 1918 New York Times article "TEACH HUMANITY IN SCHOOL; Kindly Treatment of Animals to be Part of Curriculum.")

Humane Education is a general school requirement under section 100.2 (c) (8). All elementary schools receiving money from the state of New York, are required under section 809 (see pg 3) to give weekly instruction in the humane treatment and protection of animals and the importance of the part they play in the economy of nature as well as the necessity of controlling the proliferation of animals which are subsequently abandoned and caused to suffer extreme cruelty. The out of print New York State syllabus - "The Humane Treatment of Animals: A Guide for Elementary Teachers " may be found on the ny curriculum page with updates to aid in contemporary instruction.

Humane Education teaches humaneness and respect for people too, providing instruction in civility, citizenship and character education mandated under Project SAVE, Safe Schools Against Violence in Education Act, §801-a:

shall instruct students on the principles of honesty, tolerance, personal responsibility, respect for others, observance of laws and rules, courtesy, dignity and other traits which will enhance the quality of their experiences in, and contributions to, the community.

HEART (Humane Education Advocates Reaching Teachers) provides the text of the laws in other states regarding Humane Education and the humane study, treatment and care of animals in school settings.

About the Founder:

Stephanie Bucalo, M.L.S., M.A., M.S. Ed. created Humane Education Teacher combining her love of animals and children's literature. Ms. Bucalo, a Certified Humane Education Specialist and a member of the Association of Professional Humane Educators, is certified in New York State as a Librarian, Reading Teacher and Special Educator. Having worked for fifteen years as a librarian and as a teacher, Ms. Bucalo now devotes all of her time to Humane Education.

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