Students Should Be Taught Compassion for Animals, Says Group
For Immediate Release:
March 31, 2011
Contact:
Shakira Croce 202-483-7382
Dallas--Following news reports that two Western Hills High School baseball players allegedly killed several chickens in a "sacrifice" to improve their luck, TeachKind—PETA's humane-education division—sent an urgent letter to the school's principal, James Wellman, asking him to immediately form an animal rights club. PETA believes that such a club would teach Western Hills students important lessons of compassion toward animals, serve as an outlet to those who are upset about this incident, and help prevent such incidents from occurring in the future.
"Teaching students about animals—that they feel pain, stress, and fear, just like we do—fosters compassion and helps prevent violence against animals and humans alike," says peta2 Director Dan Shannon. "Western Hills has the opportunity to reach out to students now, before another violent incident occurs."
For more information, please visit TeachKind.org.
PETA's letter to Principal Wellman follows.
March 31, 2011
James Wellman
Principal
Western Hills High School
Dear Mr. Wellman,
I'm writing on behalf of TeachKind, the humane-education division of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), about the recent incident at Western Hills High School in which two baseball players allegedly killed several chickens in an attempt to improve their luck. In the aftermath of these allegations of cruelty to animals at your school, we would like to work with you to educate students about the importance of compassion toward animals by launching an animal rights club at Western Hills High School.
Teaching students about animal issues helps prevent violence and helps students apply concepts of respect and kindness toward animals in their own lives. There are so many ways that you and your students can help animals, and we're eager to help you get started. We would be happy to work with a representative from your school to provide you with posters, stickers, leaflets, and information for you and your students. Discussing these issues will help your students understand how to appropriately treat animals and will also make your school more animal-friendly.
If you would like to discuss the how we can work together to start an animal rights club at Western Hills High School, please contact me directly. I hope to hear from you soon. Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Elizabeth Graffeo
TeachKind Program Manager
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals