The "101" Department: Let That Be a Lesson to You
Humane education programs can support schools, enthrall students, and promote kindness
Humane educators seeking ways to get a foot—or a lesson plan—in the door at their local school can look for inspiration to Jo Dean Hearn. Director of humane education at Wayside Waifs, a shelter in Kansas City, Mo., Hearn wrote and piloted a curricula, the “No More Bullies!” humane education program for grades 3-5, that is now being taught by Hearn and 17 volunteers in 80 area classrooms.
The program—one of 10 curricula that Wayside Waifs offers—is designed to prevent violence by teaching children principles such as compassion, responsibility, self-control, integrity, and respecting the rights of others, including pets.
“No More Bullies!” has been a huge hit locally: Hearn has personally presented the program to more than 8,000 students in the past five years, and she’s had many requests from schools to expand it to other age groups.