Humane Education: An Overview.

Overview & Synopsis

This booklet traces the historical development of human education as it has been instilled into the young people of America from colonial times to the present and provides a future prognosis of humaneness in the schools. Humane education promotes humane behavior and is an important part of the humane movement in the United States, although until recently it has remained largely outside the education community. The authors explore various methods of inculcating humane ideals in children, such as formal instruction in just, kind, and compassionate behavior for all living creatures; dealing directly with animals, either by owning and caring for a pet or collecting scrapbook pictures and stories about animals; and reading animal stories. Topics discussed include Why Humane Education?; Humane Education and Its Subsystems (Conservation Education, Environmental Education, Outdoor Education); Humane Education--An Overview of Development; and Contemporary Humane Education (The George Washington University Study, the Humane Education Development and Evaluation Project, the National Association for the Advancement of Humane Education). The authors conclude that never before in the history of America have conditions been so right for humanitarians to impart their message of humaneness. A bibliography is included. (Author/DDB)