#56: No More Bullying!
Why does an animal shelter have a program to prevent bullying in our schools?
Sadly, many studies have shown that people who mistreat animals are more likely to bully their peers, and later become violent towards others. In response, HAWS has aligned lessons in empathy and compassion using shelter animals and alumni as our guides.
Through the No More Bullying! program, which originated at an animal shelter in Kansas City, HAWS’ Education team works with students in 3rd through 5th grades on ways to prevent them from practicing bullying.
The program consists of five visits to a classroom for an hour each visit. Students are taught the core values of respect, self-control, responsibility and compassion, and are encouraged to practice those values so they become ingrained in their character. Additionally, HAWS’ team brings along one of our Education “ambassa-dogs” or pets, helping to keep students attention and add an incentive to practice each week’s lesson.
Teachers that have hosted “NMB” have remarked about the difference in their students, and the excitement generated in their classrooms by HAWS’ visits! Several area schools have incorporated NMB into their yearly curriculum, inviting our team to return…and even requesting specific ambassa-dogs over and over.
Please contact HAWS’ Education team at [email protected] to learn more about No More Bullying!