Traditionally, humane education has meant teaching the proper care and treatment of animals. Today, it involves much more. Humane education now includes topics that stress respect, compassion, and responsibility in the treatment of all animals and people. We believe that children taught to provide justice, kindness, and mercy to animals may become more just, kind, and considerate in their interaction with each other.
In September 2006, the Aiken SPCA in cooperation with the Aiken County School District began a Humane Education Pilot Program for K-3 classrooms at four Aiken County elementary schools. This program focuses on teaching life skills and developing positive character traits in the children of Aiken County. Our goals are to:
• Staff the program with volunteers recruited from the community
• Foster an understanding of the care of animals and what responsible pet ownership entails
• Foster an understanding of compassion and empathy to encourage positive behavior
• Foster an understanding of violence prevention and peaceful conflict resolution
• Provide this program at no cost to the Aiken County Schools, and with no additional work for the classroom teachers
• Augment the students’ existing reading, communication, and literacy skills through the use of lessons plans and materials that enhance these skills
The program has been entirely funded by the Aiken SPCA and local private donors.
Our continuing goal is to provide a quality program that has a lasting, positive effect on Aiken County students and their pets. We currently have almost 60 volunteers participating in the program at five Aiken County elementary schools. Teams of two volunteers (at least one team member is a career educator) visit their designated classroom during the school year to present a total of seven lessons. The volunteers schedule the lesson presentation dates and times with their assigned classroom teacher. All lesson plans and teaching materials are provided for each volunteer team.
This program would not be possible without the many volunteers who generously donate their time and skills. To learn more and to volunteer, please fill out an Aiken SPCA Volunteer Application.
