Fuente: The Daily
"We must take advantage of the current debate on the education pact to include animal rights in the curriculum," explains Joan Mena, who, along with Xavier Domènech, supports this initiative. The group explains that respect for animals in the classroom is perfectly usable as a tool to prevent violent bullying among students.
El mes pasado la Cámara Baja ya se posicionó a favor del respeto a los animales, dando un paso más y conseguir así que dejen de ser considerados cosas. Los diputados aprobaron por unanimidad la tramitación de una proposición de ley, impulsada por el PP, para modificar el régimen jurídico de los animales y que pasen de ser “bienes muebles” a ser “seres vivos dotados de sensibilidad”.
Along the same lines, Mena and Domènech base this initiative on biophilia, a pedagogical concept "defined as the innate emotional bond in humans towards other living beings." "The application of inclusive educational programs that respect sentient beings is the fundamental tool for learning the skills that comprise emotional intelligence, in order to eliminate the social, personal, and economic costs generated by beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors lacking such intelligence," they state in the non-legislative proposal they registered in the Official Gazette of the Cortes in November.
In it they urge the Government to "establish the necessary mechanisms so that in the next legislative amendment" educational content on empathy towards animals is introduced "into the compulsory education curriculum, and especially in the second cycle of early childhood education, primary, secondary and vocational training, to prevent, avoid and intervene in violent behaviors towards humans."
UP seeks support in Congress
For now, the left-wing coalition has not set a date for debating the document and explains that they will "invite" all groups that are willing to sign it in order to present it "jointly".
This proposal, like the non-legislative motion that preceded the bill modifying the legal framework for animals, is being promoted by the parliamentary association for the defense of animals (APDDA). "It's not an animal rights initiative for animal rights activists," says the spokesperson for this group and former member of parliament, Chesús Yuste, regarding the Unidos Podemos proposal. He argues that in this case, advocating for empathy towards animals "serves to mitigate violence among humans."
According to a Save the Children survey on childhood bullying, 5.4% of the young people interviewed admitted to having bullied someone, and 9.3% said they had been bullied themselves. To combat these figures, this parliamentary proposal argues that including content promoting "sensitivity towards animals" will ensure that these qualities are transmitted to classmates, thus reducing or eliminating problems of aggression and unrest in the classroom.
The APDA has supplemented this text with the report "Education for Empathy Towards Animals as a Strategy for Preventing School Bullying," written by members of the PRODA association (Professionals for Animal Defense). This document, which they have sent to the members of parliament debating the education pact and who will vote on the non-legislative proposal, presents a broader proposal, revising the wording of the law and suggesting that the responsibilities of pet ownership be addressed in early childhood education classrooms, and that students learn to identify the needs, feelings, and emotions of all living beings.
These suggestions were drafted by members of this group following a debate held during a parliamentary session convened by APDDA. Among them, they also propose that primary school students reflect in class on the use of animals in school experiments and research, reconsider traditions that are disrespectful to animals, and be encouraged to adopt a healthy diet based on reduced meat consumption.
Reflecting on the emotions of animals
"Currently in Natural Sciences, animals are discussed from a very utilitarian point of view, but we often fail to establish links between the basic needs and the emotions that these animals do have," points out psychologist Esperanza Otero, spokesperson for PRODA.
Its professionals, from diverse disciplines, primarily related to pedagogy, explain that they have adapted the content to the students' ages. "Young children can be taught about not stepping on anthills or snails. That also contributes to environmental protection," Otero points out. As the students grow older and become teenagers, they begin to broaden their focus to include topics such as "bullfighting, zoos, dolphinariums, and farm animals."
Currently, small groups visit educational centers to give workshops on respecting animals. Aula Animal, an association of teachers in Aragon, has been teaching this content to both students and teachers since 2011. In their talks, they advocate for "an approach that makes students reflect on the role of animals in society." One of the points they work on, explains Pilar Badía, spokesperson for the group and a secondary school teacher, focuses on making students reflect on why animals are "discriminated against." "Through our talks, we highlight the capacity animals have to feel. We don't just emphasize the positive aspects; we also address the pain, suffering, and sadness that result from the activities to which we humans subject them," this teacher points out.