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Farm Sanctuary Urges New York City Council to Vote Yes on Resolution 497 in Support of Humane Education in City Schools

Resolution Urges New York City Department of Education to Help City Schools Comply with State Law Mandating Humane Education in New York Schools

New York, NY – December 16, 2008 – Farm Sanctuary, the nation’s leading farm animal protection organization, today urged the New York City Council to vote YES on Resolution 497 in support of humane education in city schools. Resolution 497 asks the New York City Department of Education to issue a memorandum to all public schools in the city, notifying them about the humane education mandate in section 809 of the New York State Education Law. It also requires all city elementary school principals to ensure that their teachers comply with the humane education requirements outlined in this law.

Today at noon, Farm Sanctuary’s National Advocacy Organizer, Jasmin Singer, will join with representatives from the League of Humane Voters, Humane Education Advocates Reaching Teachers (HEART) and other humane organizations for a press conference on the steps of City Hall to support Resolution 497.

In 1947, the state of New York recognized the importance of education that teaches children to respect all living beings, including animals. This is evidenced by section 809 of the New York State Education Law, which requires instruction in “the humane treatment and protection of animals.” Unfortunately, most educators today are unaware of this law. Resolution 497 would correct this and bring humane education into classrooms as the state intended more than 50 years ago.

For more than 20 years, Farm Sanctuary’s humane education efforts have included classroom presentations and activities that teach students the importance of respecting all living creatures. “Farm Sanctuary has seen first-hand the lasting impact that humane education has on children,” said Jasmin Singer. “We teach the foundations of compassion – a universal value that makes for an empathic, insightful and law-abiding adult.  Resolution 497 enforces existing mandates that will ensure that every child in New York City receives humane education and we are urging City Council members to vote yes.”

Additionally, Resolution 1541, which calls on the New York City Department of Education to survey schools in order to assess their compliance with curriculum mandates in the state Education Law, including the humane education requirement, will also be voted on today. This resolution compliments Resolution 497, and Farm Sanctuary is encouraging passage of both.   

Farm Sanctuary's Cultivating Compassion program offers materials for teachers designed to encourage respect and kindness toward all living beings and the environment. Farm Sanctuary provides these resources  to teachers at no charge and they can be ordered through farmsanctuary.org.

Farm Sanctuary is the nation's leading farm animal protection organization. Since incorporating in 1986, Farm Sanctuary has worked to expose and stop cruel practices of the "food animal" industry through research and investigations, legal and institutional reforms, public awareness projects, youth education, and direct rescue and refuge efforts. Farm Sanctuary shelters in Watkins Glen, N.Y., and Orland, Calif., provide lifelong care for hundreds of rescued animals, who have become ambassadors for farm animals everywhere by educating visitors about the realities of factory farming. Additional information can be found at www.farmsanctuary.org or by calling 607-583-2225.