As part of their Health and Safety Curriculum, Garland Independent School District is distributing coloring books and showing videos sponsored by the NRA, to teach gun safety.
Aside from the controversial nature of a program that familiarizes kindergarten age children with firearms, the merits (or lack thereof) of which are being extensively discussed elsewhere, it is a sad indictment on our education system’s priorities that Humane Education programs are routinely under-funded, if they are featured at all.
According to CBS11 TV, “The district stresses that gun safety is only one part of the curriculum. Teachers also spend days even weeks talking about life jackets, bicycle safety, car safety and what to do if confronted by a stranger.”
Given the upward trend of animal cruelty incidents perpetrated by children, as well as burgeoning violence in the schoolyard, shouldn’t schools be prioritizing programs that teach kids compassion, humanity and respect for others (including animals)? Surely if children were taught humane values, there would be a virtuous cycle of compassion that might, in time, also lead to a reduction in gun-related incidents?
Or is it easier to sell out to the well-funded gun lobby while animal welfare agencies leverage every penny of their scarce resources dealing with the consequences of an increasingly inhumane society?
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