Environmentalist Baba Dioum said, "In the end we will conserve only what we love. We will love only what we understand. We will understand only what we are taught." Similarly, people are much more likely to protect who they love. As humane educators, we must challenge the many misconceptions that young people have about other species so that they can better understand them. Then, they are more likely to feel love for them, and therefore are more likely to protect them.
In this lesson, Attitudes Toward Animals, students are invited to consider how they perceive different animal species and why. They will review diverse animal perspectives held by historical figures who have influenced the ways in which society treats other living beings. Students are then tasked with developing their own statement to represent the human-animal relationship. When we challenge ourselves to better understand the complex social, emotional, and intellectual lives of non-human animals, it is an opportunity to expand our circle of compassion.