The Standards Connection

Humane education has historically been synonymous with teaching the proper care of companion animals, but today it involves so much more. The society works with teachers to develop, implement and customize educational programs that are applicable to course content and curriculum of the DOE system.

Recognizing the need to bring humane education and character development to the classroom, the Hawaiian Humane Society has developed a means for humane education to be an integral part of the Hawaii's Department of Education performance standards in a variety of areas.

Career & Life Skills:

Skills For Life and Work #3

Students develop skills critical to success in life and work: thinking and reasoning, managing resources and information, interpersonal relations, and systems knowledge. Animal-related projects promote interaction — human and/or animal — and can nurture confidence and competence in students.

Social Studies Content Standards:

Historical Empathy #2

Students learn to evaluate the past to better understand present-day issues. History of societal attitudes and practices towards animals, cultural influences, and issues of cruelty provide a means for exploring historical empathy.

Science Content Standards

By brainstorming and analyzing modern-day issues of animal welfare, students put to practice critical and analytical thinking. (Domain I: Habits of Mind: Living the Values, Attitudes, and Commitments of the Inquiring Mind #2).

In studying the dynamics between people, animals and environment, students learn about the co-existence and interdependence of all living creatures. (Domain II: Organisms sand Development: Interdependence #5).

Pet population and statistics. The "web of life." Animal and human interaction. Human impact on wildlife. Students pursue projects on animal related issues and can explain what influences learning and human behavior. (Domain II: Learning and Human Behavior #12).

Language Arts Content Standards: Reading, Writing, and Oral Communication

Students build confidence as thinkers and communicators by gathering perspectives, information and developing presentations for specific audiences. Animal-related literature, animal welfare issues and violence in the media offer a rich variety of resource materials.