Resources & Archives Learning Kindness One Species at A Time (Summer 2000) — Soon, middle school science students will be learning much more than just the anatomy of animals thanks to an innovative NEAVS-sponsored program, Next of Kin. As many of our supporters know from the last issue of Update, program coordinator Rachel Fouts-Carrico is developing a science curriculum that incorporates the ethical and social issues affecting the great apes - our next of kin - and all animals. Once developed, Next of Kin will be incorporated into established academic science programs in a variety of schools. "We are focusing on middle school students for our first program," said Fouts-Carrico. "Students at that age are starting to make their own decisions about what is right and wrong and we have a great opportunity to help by providing the ethical side of the vivisection issue." Fouts-Carrico reports that the program's lesson plans are nearing completion and two schools are on board to pilot the curriculum. "We have been sending sample drafts to teachers and education professors for feedback and they are all contributing to the final version," said Fouts-Carrico. "This assures that students and teachers both get the most from this program." Ethical and compassionate decision making is a skill that must be learned at an early age, and there is no better place to begin to establish a humane science ethic than in our classrooms. "Our new focused educational work on science classes will help ensure that future scientists - and citizens - will be compassionate thinkers and not continue to blindly endorse the limited ethic of today's scientific community," said NEAVS President Theodora Capaldo, a psychologist. "It is important that school children understand the uniqueness and individuality of each and every species. Rachel will focus on chimpanzees, who are intelligent and engaging, as a way to foster children's awareness and interest in all species. Children are able to relate to chimpanzees on a cognitive level through empathic 'liking' and they begin to start thinking about animals as individuals instead of 'things.' When animals are real, live individuals to us, it becomes increasingly difficult, if not impossible, to perpetrate atrocities against them." Famed author and psychologist Dr. Roger Fouts couldn't agree more. "The only hope for establishing peace with our fellow species is through teaching compassion for all life to our children," he said. We'll keep you Updated on this exciting work as it develops. Thanks to all of our dedicated supporters who help future generations grow up respecting all life through programs like Next of Kin. Back to UPDATE 2000 Series, Vol. 1, No. 2 Summer mainpage.