Humane Education

In 2019, we founded HumaneU to implement Humane Education in the state of NY through legislation, education, and funding partnerships. Humane Education teaches students empathy, compassion, and respect for people, animals, and the environment.

In 1947, Humane Education was mandated in NY schools but there is little or no compliance. As an unfunded mandate, Humane Education has never been effectively put in place.

In 1947, when NY lawmakers enacted the NY Humane Education Law, they realized the need to teach empathy for animals and awareness about the earth and endangered species so that children would grow up kind, compassionate, and more respectful.

Together, by educating and thereby empowering today’s youth, we will create a compassionate and caring society, and improve the lives of our children, our animals, our earth and ourselves.

In a well-structured humane education program, Younger children are initially introduced to simple animal issues, and the exploration of animal sentience and needs Then, gradually, learners begin to consider a whole range of ethical issues (animal, human and environmental) using resources and lesson plans designed to generate creative and critical thinking, and to assist each individual in tapping in to their inbuilt ‘moral compass’.

When educators carry out this process using successfully tried and tested methods, what they do for learners is to help them develop: Personal understanding of ‘who they are’ – recognizing their own special skills, talents, abilities and fostering in them a sense of self-worth. Deep feeling for animals, the environment and other people, based on empathy, understanding and respect. Own personal beliefs and values, based on wisdom, justice, and compassion. Sense of responsibility that makes them want to affirm and to act upon their personal beliefs.

Where H.E. is in place, studies show improvement extending to areas such as: bullying, teenage pregnancies,  drug-taking, racism, and the persecution of minority groups.  It has also been shown to increase school attendance rates, enhance school relationships and behavior, and to improve academic achievement.