New-York tribune., 1908-11-08
TO TEACH KINDNESS
Greenscich Schools Add Ncrc Study
to Their Curriculum.

How many schools teach the law Of kindnessf
In what curriculum has humane ethics-the teach
ing of kindness to and beasts plaoe7 Ac-
rordinR to Mrs. Charles B. Reed, OF Greenwioh
Conn. not q public school curriculum in the United
States includes such branch At least that was
true up to the night Of last wednesday. On that
night owing to the efforts of Mrs Reed and other
citizens of Greenwich there held a large and
enthusiastic meeting. at which the Greenwich
Board of School Visitors agreed unanimously 70
add humane education to the other things taught
the children Of that town.
few weeks ago Mrs. Reed was appointed BY the
Greenwich Society for Animal Protection, Of which
she is a member to form bands Of mercy among
the children.
TT seemed to me- Mrs. Reed said 70 q Tribune
reporter that while these bands are excellent.
the thing ought to begin further baok-wfth the
education of the child began to wonder II hu-
name ethics a part OF any school curr1cuiun-
I wrote to innumerable boards OF education to hnd
out, and in every tho answer was No Many
teachers do encourage and instruct their pupils
20 be kind the birds, to their PETS to one an
other, but 1t depends on the teacher; II sho ooesn1
want to do It, she need not 1t seemed to me that
10 teach children to be kind to animals means 80
rnuch-means that in the end they VIII be better
citizens braver and finer IL every way-that 1t
ought to be made required study, not left to the
individual feelings of the teachers knowing no"
often it is said that there are too many studies
now I thought humane ethics might be made q
part the nature study course with the little chill
dren-presented in very simple guse-and in the
more advanced grades it might be taught with
biology
Accordingly, Mrs. Reed started out to enlist
Greenwich teachers. She called on the principal
OF every school. public and private. talked with
many OF the teachers and to her own surprtse-"for
Z know how busy teachers are" she said-tound
every eager to meet her more than half way
On September q meeting called by the So
cety for Animal Protection. Ordinarily fourteen or
fifteen members made up these meetings. At this
gathering. what with the invited guests. more than
seventy people came Every school in Greenwich
represented by its principal and one or two
teachers. Judges. business men. ministers were
there and not person attended who did not enter
eagerly into the plans for the humane education or
children. I'VE surprised" member OF tho
society told the reporter, "at the response to our
call because Greenwich a frivolous place.
kind of summer resort place; we ike to drive and
Dress and all that. 1 didn't suppose Greenwich
would take up a serious thing seriously. The
society was specially pleased with the response
from the private schools When Mrs. Reed called
the principal of very fashionable one she
said to him.
DO you suppose there is any field of Gods grass
large enough for the children OF your school to
Foregather in it with the children Of the public
schools when have field day, as we hopo to
have?" He answered laughing:
IF there isn't We'll bring out sofa pillows for
them to sit on.' Then he added that If it were not
his curriculum already printed he would
include humane ethics this year.
IF that's ALL" Mrs Reed said. 'Mr Reed shall
send YOU In a few days exact dupicates-Just
many copies as you have-of your curriculum. with
humane ethics included" And IL done. and
the study is now Of the branches at that
school.
At the meeting Of September e, over which DR..
E. D. Graber principal OF the Greenwich High
School, presided. and at which Ernest Thompson
Seton, Adoniram Judson Leech organizer OF the
Massachusetts Society for the Prevention OF Cruel
" to Animals, and Mrs. Reed and many others
spoke, committee was formed to draw up set
of recommendations to be presented to the Green
wich Board of School Visitors This 'presentment,"
as it is called, passed by the board at last
Wednesdays meeting, and is now law IN the
schools What 1t urged, in brief, was that greater
emphasis should be placed upon teaching, the
proper treatment and the preservation of all harm
less and essential animal life, for moral. economic
and aesthetic reasons. There are four recon-
mendations In the presentment. The first is that
the board require the Incorporation of topics relat
ing to humane education in all approved currIcula
for the schools Of Greenwich in the form of
supplementary reading matter, composition work
nature study and biology The second suggests
that in primary grades, ''stories be read to the
pupils relating to kindness toward animals and tow
ard each other" The third recommendation is that
in the more advanced grades supplementary reading
of at least book year be required Of each
student above the fifth grade which shall serve
to impress upon the pupil his duty toward his fell
lows and all animal life, and that stereopticon
views be used to teach these things. The fourth
clause recommends that teachers be authorized and
encouraged to organize bands of mercy in the
schools.
On November IS a big ratification meeting, with
hosts children present. will be held in Green
wich celebrate the adoption of this presentIn
by the Board OF School Visitors. It is hoped that
DR.. William Maxwell Superintendent OF Schools in
New York City, and Frank Chapman of the Mu-
scum of Natural History will be there among
othe-s. Greenwich people interested in the cause
optimistic enough to believe that this is the
beginning Of widespread movement Already
many nq,iring letters have been received from /