CHILDREN LEARN TO PROTECT ANIMALS – AN INNOVATIVE EDUCATIONAL PROJECT RUN BY "FOUR PAWS" – PRACTICAL CASE
Abstract
The introduction of the FOUR PAWS educational project "Children Learn to Protect Animals" to the Bulgarian school system was prompted by a disturbing trend of a considerable increase of violence among children, including cases of cruelty toward animals. As a response to the social request for proper reaction and relevant decisions, FOUR PAWS offers a flexible educational program that includes an interactive textbook for children "Close to Animals", a complete teachers’ methodology and a new university teachers' program. All textbooks and qualification trainings for teachers are provided by FOUR PAWS animal welfare charity free of charge. The approach offered is focusing on the specific welfare of and love for animals to address the general issue – teach children to be tolerant and show empathy towards both animals and humans, and thus prevent aggression.
The program is directed to pre-school and primary school children and teachers. It is promoted closely with Bulgarian educational institutions and local authorities.
Results: over 6000 kids included, 130 teachers trained; programme is well-accepted in all sorts of schools: of high and not so high reputation. It helps facilitate socialization and integration of children from marginalized minority groups.
The social acceptance shown proves the programme's potential and the need for expansion via new educational tools and measures.
References
Arluke and Levin. (1999). "The Relationship of Animal Abuse to Violence and Other Forms of Antisocial Behaviour", Retrieved March 30, 2017 from https://www.academia.edu/25664775/Relationship_of_Animal_Abuse_to_Violence_and_Other_Forms_of_Antisocial_Behavior
"Citizenship Education in Europe" (2012). Retrieved March 30, 2017 from http://eacea.ec.europa.eu/education/eurydice/documents/thematic_reports/139EN.pdf
Gechev, Y. (2010). Nasilieto nad zhivotni i khora. Retrieved March 30, 2017 from http://www.dnevnik.bg/analizi/2010/07/22/936402_nasilieto_nad_jivotni_i_hora/
Getova, K. (2013). Psikhologo-pedagogichesko prostranstvo na razvitieto na deteto. Sofia.
Koleva, M. (2004). Pedagogicheska tekhnologiya za opazvane na okolnata deĭstvitelnost ot detsata v preduchilishtna vŭzrast, Blagoevgrad
Nikolov, A. (2013). Uchilishtnoto obrazovanie v Bŭlgariya. Sŭstoyanie i tendentsii. Retrieved March 30, 2017 from http://ime.bg/var/images/secondary_education_Adrian.pdf
Pollard, A. (1990). Learning In Primary Schools. London, 7-16
Stavreva and Kitanova. (2012). Multiple Intelligences in the Primary. 21st BETA-IATEFL Annual International Conference, University of Ruse, Ruse, Bulgaria, 30th March – 1st April 2012.
Vacleva, Z. (2008). Sŭvremenni aspekti na ekologichnoto obrazovanie. Retrieved March 30, 2017 from http://web.uni-plovdiv.bg/ecology/files/ASCE2008/410-419_Vakleva_(2008)_ASCE.pdf
Copyright information
- Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License (Creative Commons Attribution License 3.0 - CC BY 3.0) that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work (See The Effect of Open Access).
info@iseic.cz, www.iseic.cz, ojs.journals.cz