The focus of teachers highlights the work of various humanity teachers, giving them the opportunity to share their stories and advice and inspire other compassionate teachers like you to act in the best interest of animals through education.
Meet Becky Cummings, a home student who has nurtured compassion for animals in her home for nearly two years. Before homeschooling, she was the homeroom teacher and later the owner of a tutoring company. She embarked on an animal-friendly lifestyle a few years ago and is now aiming to become fully vegan. She took the time to answer a few questions below.
How does compassion for animals fit into your home teaching curriculum?
We remove from school, so our curriculum is everyday life. We learn from our own experience, and every activity that my children choose has a meaning for them. Compassion for animals occurs naturally through socializing, reading books, watching documentaries, and day trips. Maybe we go camping and find a snake. This provides an excellent opportunity to study snakes in their natural habitat. My children will study the animal more on the computer when we get home. Last year they wanted to give it to an animal shelter for the holidays. So we went shopping and bought dog and cat food and toys for them to deliver to our local shelter.
How did your children benefit from studying animal problems?
My children have learned to be kind to all living beings. They understand that we are all connected and sympathize with the homeless person on the corner or the beetle on the sidewalk.
What has been the reaction of your homeschooling community (other homeschoolers, your familiar parents, etc.) to your humane education?
We share our lifestyles and beliefs in gentle conversations. My children know that not everyone thinks the same way. We plant seeds with our choices and words.
What challenges, if any, do you face as a humane educator, and how can you overcome them?
My biggest problem was food. My husband is not vegetarian. In the early years, my children were not raised to be vegetarians. Now I cook only on a plant basis, although my children themselves choose when we are in restaurants. I also get them to cook with me, so they enjoy plant-based cooking. When we do something instead of meat, like burgers, I emphasize how wonderful it is that no animal has been harmed.
What advice would you give to a homeschooler who wants to try humane education but doesn’t know where to start?
Keep it simple. If you have pets at home, make sure your kids are involved in their care, whether it be filling the cat with water, walking the dog, or cleaning the aquarium. Pick up a book from the library about an animal your child likes and learn more about that animal. Compassion will develop naturally.
What advice would you give to parents who are interested in homeschooling?
Many parents fear that they do not have the knowledge, skills, or patience for homeschooling. This is the fear that keeps many from jumping. My advice is just do it! You can’t screw up. If it doesn’t work out, the kids can always go back to school. There is no rule that you should be homeschooled throughout your school career. This can be any amount of time. Children are naturally curious and will learn! Both of you will study together. Enjoy the process, feel free and trust the human spirit to find out exactly what it needs.
Do you have any homeschooling tips for parents looking to complement their kids’ homeschooling during a pandemic?
During isolation and technology-driven learning, focus on the opposite. Get outside! Create a hiking club or Lego meeting. Play in the park or exchange books with friends. When topics naturally arise that interest your children, dive deeper.
What inspired you to write Gobble gobble mr wobble?
When we lived in Connecticut, we drove past our city butcher every day, and it upset me. One fall I started thinking about all the turkeys eaten for Thanksgiving and it dawned on me. I decided to do something about it. As an author, I know I can cover thousands, maybe millions, with my books. I wanted to tell a story about a turkey that was loved and respected as a friend. So I got the idea that the farmer would “eat his turkey” for Thanksgiving, but as a guest of honor. I hoped this story would make people think about what they ate. I even had a vegan chef who helped me create Thanksgiving recipes to add to my back. After that, I decided that I needed to make a whole series called Compassion of a creature… My second book on the fur industry was called Don’t share, Miss Hare, was released in February 2021.
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