Article - Humane Education: Not Just for Children
Judy Weisbrot
Years ago I worked for a company which at the time believed in on-the-job training. By my desk was a sign stating "If the pupil hasn't learned, the teacher hasn't taught." The sign was a traditional view of teaching/learning and today many feel that the responsibility for learning is the learner's. Over the years I have found that not everyone learns at the same pace or in the same way and some people don't want to learn at all. As a humane educator, I find teaching adults my biggest challenge.
In the last few years, I have concentrated on teaching our message to children, kindergarten to grade 12, and will continue to do so. I am now trying to reach adults as well and feel it is necessary for several reasons.
Reaching adults necessary
When teaching children, they will sometimes contradict me with "My mom says it's OK to..." or "My dad says neutering is cruel..." Do parents' views nullify our views? I need to talk to more parents!
Humane societies have changed over the last 25 years and many adults have no idea what we do or what our opinions regarding animals are. I recently hosted a group of professionals at the shelter and after giving a short talk was flabbergasted by their comments. Several of them thought of us only as a place to call about a lost dog or as a place that "put down" dogs. I need to talk to more professionals!
The dynamics of Canada have changed with people from different lands bringing cultural diversity. This creates a wonderful new mosaic for Canada but not always for pets. Some cultures are afraid of animals we see as pets, some think they are dirty and should never be in the house, some think they should never be neutered or spayed and some see certain pets as status symbols. I need to talk to new Canadians!
I have spoken at several seniors' centres this year and found seniors a receptive audience. They were interested in all aspects of our work and vowed to spread my message to family visitors. These wonderful messengers can't be ignored. I need to talk to more seniors!
Animals are not abandoned, disposed of, or brought to animal shelters by children. I need to talk to all adults!
How to reach adults
Adults won't knock on your door and it is not enough to offer a course on humane education to adults - few will show up. The lecture or course must meet a need or specific interest to get them in the door or to invite you to speak. This could be dog grooming, pet first aid, choosing the right dog, dog psychology, building a cat run, cat behaviour, or pets in our society. These are all talks the Calgary Humane Society has given this past year and in each one you have the opportunity to speak on spay/neuter, vaccinations, what pets need, cruelty to animals, the connection between violence towards people and violence to animals, and what exactly is a responsible pet owner.
Teaching adults differs greatly from teaching children mainly because adults, in the course of living, have accumulated vast quantities of experience and have developed firm opinions including views regarding animals. Be prepared for penetrating questions and good debates by having a lot of facts to back up your presentation. Consider every question as if you had never been asked it before and show the passion you have for your subject. Don't take personally such comments as, "How can you talk about being humane - you kill animals." Always be honest.
A few training tips that will help when teaching adults are:
- Involve learners as individuals and as a group.
- Never make them feel foolish
- Vary your pace and technique
- Use examples/situations that are relevant. "Hands on" works well with adults.
- Allow ample opportunity for discussion.
Humane education must include adults as a target group. The problems we face today are sadly created by these people. Perhaps they haven't learned because they haven't been taught. Yet!
