Saturday August 8, 2009, 5:42 pm
Stories teach children empathy for animals
The Associated Press
Tucson, Arizona | Published: 08.08.2009
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WHEATON, Md. — "I have no use for a cat." That's what Mrs. Crump says when the golden cat shows up on her porch and slips in the door. And when she thinks about letting the cat out, one child in Natalie Nelson's kindergarten class can't help but interrupt.
"That's not a nice thing to do! You can't tell a cat to shoo, because they like you," the student calls out.
It's not a bad summary of one of the lessons of "Mrs. Crump's Cat," the book that humane educator BJ Altschul is reading to the class.
Altschul's visit to Arcola Elementary is part of the Humane Education Ambassador Readers program, which brings volunteers into schools to lead activities based on a carefully selected list of picture books about people and animals. The goal is to help children develop the empathy for other creatures that prevents animal cruelty and promotes responsible care of pets.
Each book is chosen partly because it helps children understand something about the meaning of a pet's sounds, tail-wagging and other body language. These basic lessons in animal behavior are important because many of the children involved in the program have no pets, and their only experiences of animals may be fearful ones.

Please visit site to read the rest:

Saturday August 8, 2009, 5:44 pm
How refreshing ... we mu$t $top teaching children to torture and kill ...


Kids Learn That Killing Is Fun at the Army's Lethal New Theme Park At
a mall near you: "The Army Experience Center" 15,000 sq.ft. arcade
loaded with interactive military simulators, where kids can fire from a
real Humvee or Apache simulator surrounded by virtual projection
screens. All Free. Guided by an Army Recruiter

Report: Home from Iraq, some troops 'kept killing'

Saturday August 8, 2009, 9:30 pm
I know that reading Bambi, Old Yeller, & Black Beauty gave me empathy as a child and as an adult my empathy was increased by reading Silent Spring, Water ship down and Sea of Slaughter.

Sunday August 9, 2009, 12:15 am
Programs like this should have been part of school curriculum centuries ago. But better late than never.

Sunday August 9, 2009, 11:50 am
anything it takes is cool!!!

Sunday August 9, 2009, 12:17 pm
GUYS, PLEASE VISIT THIS SITE...IT IS TRULY INSPIRING WHAT THEY ARE TRYING TO DO, WHILE I WAS JOTTING DOWN THINGS I WANTED TO COMMENT ON, FORTUNALY, THEY ARE MOSTLY LAID OUT THERE IN THE BEGININNING BEFORE YOU GET TO THE SITE. BUT, SO MUCH MORE IN THIS ARTICLE, PLEASE READ!!!

If more like this is done in pre-schools, elementary schools, even higher up schools, I, personally, feel we will have less children get into abusing their pets, or someone else's precious animal, whatever it may be, DOG, CAT, BUNNY, etc!!! Also, those children who do learn at an early age to respect what is a living breathing animal, may (hopefully) go on to be the "Spokespeople" for these animals.

Personally, I DO BELIEVE THIS PROGRAM IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO TAKE PLACE AT AN EARLY AGE. Unfortuntely, children do learn from example, and since this is taught in some schools, there is a need for this to spread into many many more schools. Those whose are not taught, their parents who are abusing animals, sadly so will they! MORE, MORE MORE, these young children will learn that it is wrong to behave like so many older people who comment and do cruel things to animals.

This story was a great one. PLEASE DO VISIT THE SITE, I WAS TRULY IMPRESSED AND HOPE AND PRAY THIS CONTINUES TO ALL SCHOOLS YOUNG AND EVEN HIGH SCHOOL. Maybe, we may have less animal abusers out there, people abusers etc. Once you learn to respect a living animal, you also learn to respect living breathing people.

This was such a great site and I will have to totally share this story...Thanks so much for this article...much needed in today's horrible society...we need there to be young children out there learing compassion, and, hopefully, there will be something left, when they grow up to be adults to protect and defend!!!!

Sunday August 9, 2009, 4:08 pm
OMG - 1000 thanks, Raffi, for this incredible, hopeful story!
Marily, I am so with you on this one! In fact, I copied their telephone number already to contact them tomorrow. I need to find out where else this program is planned to be introduced as I earnestly would love to become a volunteer teaching this in schools! This is sooo inspiring!
Just think, if each of us would do this - even if it is only once a month - what impact we could make!

Sunday August 9, 2009, 4:26 pm

The awesome Site is www.UnitedAnimalnations.com

Humane Education Ambassador Reader Program

This unique community-based literacy program helps children explore the bond between people and animals through stories and discussion. HEAR volunteers visit elementary school classrooms, after-school programs, animal shelters and other venues to read to children and lead discussions -- helping children develop critical thinking skills and empathy.

About HEAR

Find out how the program works, and how you can become a volunteer or bring the program to your community.

Suggested Reading List

We’re always adding to our list of books that can show children the important bond between humans and animals.

Stay Informed

Keep up-to-date on the HEAR program: Sign up to receive our e-mail newsletters!

Sunday August 9, 2009, 4:57 pm
Great program and way overdue. We have to reprogram the human race to learn how to love and share instead of hate .greediness.
Thanks Raffi

Sunday August 9, 2009, 6:18 pm
Love this story. About time too!
Tx Raffi

Monday August 10, 2009, 12:23 am
Give me back the curriculum before the mid 60's before Psychiatry got it teeth into our school systems any day!
Kids became good adults then and did not need mind altering drugs so they could not feel anything or not be able to tell right from wrong.

Monday August 10, 2009, 3:02 am
Bravo, sue w. You are spot on about your comment. This is the ultimate truth about psychiatry. People take tablets for everything, instead they should confront the problems and find solutions to solve.

Monday August 10, 2009, 4:54 am
this is such a wonderful idea, our schools are responsible for so many children, in many cases the teachers are the only ones to take an interest in certain kids. they need to realize how much pain and suffering animals do feel, and they need to know that when they feel the most alone, the love of an animal can help them get through the tough times.
for some poor children, that is all they may get from life.

Monday August 10, 2009, 8:15 am
many thanks Rafael

Friday August 14, 2009, 7:43 am
Empathy is so so very important. If we could teach and instill empathy in all children, our crime and abuse rates would drop way down. Thank you Rafael!

Saturday September 26, 2009, 11:07 am
Should be required in every school and is long overdue. Few parents take time to teach their children respect for other people, let alone compassion for animals. We live in a sad world.