Conchi Ponti is the education manager at the animal rights organization Igualdad Animal (Animal Equality). In this interview, she shares her vision of how respectful education regarding animals of other species should be approached.
– Do you think early childhood education is very different from adult education?
Sí, la educación infantil es diferente a la educación en adultos puesto que los niños y niñas en esa edad tienen una facilidad para comprender la realidad muy abrumadora. Se trata de una edad en la que se produce la socialización, por lo tanto para las niñas y niños de educación infantil no hay pautas muy arraigadas, sino que nos encontramos con unas ansias de aprender y conocer únicas.
– Do you tell your students that you are vegan?
Always. I don't consider it a taboo subject, quite the opposite. I believe it's essential to normalize a way of life that treats animals fairly.
– You are responsible for education at the organization Animal Equality,
What does that work consist of?
What does that work consist of?
My work in the education department of Animal Equality focuses on developing educational projects and proposing ways to introduce respect for animals into the educational setting. This involves coordinating various education professionals to channel their experience and expertise into viable and engaging activities for interested schools. I also give lectures at teacher training colleges and conduct workshops for both children and teachers. It's about bridging the gap between education and animal rights, aiming to make schools agents of change, rather than perpetuating injustices against animals.
– Why do you think it's important to instill values in children?
respect for animals?
respect for animals?
It is in childhood that we internalize most of our conceptions of reality. Today, education teaches us to see animals as mere resources. Teaching is based on a complete ignorance of what other animals are really like and on a simple transmission of ideas that have not been questioned within the educational system. This obviously has disastrous consequences, especially for non-human animals who suffer from being disregarded.
Furthermore, children grow up with a distorted view of other animals, which deprives them of a deep and real understanding of those individuals that often fascinate them so much.
– Could you share with us an activity that has given you
good results in the classroom?
good results in the classroom?
One of the most positive activities I've implemented is a workshop on affection. It involves working with families and draws many parallels with the families of other animals. For example, one activity in this workshop stems from classroom research on how hens can distinguish their chicks by the sound of their cheeps. We then bring this into our classroom and try to see if a visiting parent can find their child among all the others by recognizing their voice. These activities may seem unrelated to veganism or animal rights at first glance, but they are incredibly helpful in understanding other animals fairly and appreciating that, in what truly matters, we are all equal.