«Animal welfare is education for humanity»

Mrs Jeker, what are animal ethics lessons about?

We want to awaken compassion for all living creatures in the generation of tomorrow, promote respect for them and encourage children to treat animals and nature with respect. Because as Albert Schweitzer said: animal welfare is education for humanity. Those who learn at an early age to show consideration for animals and their habitat will later find it easier to treat their fellow human beings in the same way. Animal ethics should be part of every child's education as a component of overall ethics.

We sensitise children to the fact that every animal is an individual with its own needs.

Cristina Jeker, Managing Director of Das Tier + Wir

What does a lesson in animal ethics look like?

A double lesson starts with age-appropriate ethical principles that are based on the learning objectives in Curriculum 21. In kindergarten and first grade, this is mainly done in a playful way. When the children are a little older, we provide information about the situation of animals in our society, again in an age-appropriate and undogmatic way.

We talk about the fact that animals feel the same emotions as we humans do. It is also about sensitising children to the fact that every animal is an individual with its own needs.

What are other topics?

This depends on the teacher's wishes. Pets are a popular topic at primary school. Here, too, we want to encourage reflection: What do I need to consider before I buy an animal? Can I keep it in a species-appropriate way, according to its needs? Guinea pigs and rabbits, for example, don't like being carried around.

Other topics include animal testing, fur in fashion, animals in zoos and circuses and «petfluencing», i.e. animal suffering in social media. And, of course, factory farming. Their ecological impact shows how closely our fate is interwoven with that of animals. However, children should not feel powerless in the face of all this, but should know that they can make a difference. We want to educate them about these possibilities - from insect protection in everyday life to questions about what they should pay attention to when consuming animal products.