An In-class, Humane Education Program Can Improve Young Students’ Attitudes Toward Animals
Publication Type: |
Journal Article |
Year of Publication: |
2008 |
Authors: |
Kate Nicoll, Cindy Trifone, William Ellery Samuels |
Publication/Journal: |
Society and Animals |
Keywords: |
elementary school children, empathy, humane education |
ISBN: |
10631119 15685306 |
Abstract:
All 8 first-grade classes of an elementary school participated in a study of the efficacy of an inclass humane education program that incorporated regular visits from therapy animals. The study also investigated the relative efficacy of a popular, printed humane education publication, although it was not possible to use this printed material in its optimal manner. The in-class humane-education program—but not the printed material—significantly increased students’ self-reported attitudes toward nonhuman animals as compared to those of students who did not participate in the program. However, neither the in-class program nor the printed material affected student scores on another, self-report measure of interactions with one’s nonhuman animal companions. Therefore, the results suggest that such an in-class approach can change young students’ attitudes toward animals for the better; not surprisingly, actual interactions with one’s pets may be somewhat less tractable.