Jukes N. Catalysing change in the curriculum: The vision and practice of InterNICHE. Paper presented at: Everyone is responsible. 1st International Conference on Animal Welfare Education; 2010 Oct 1-2; Brussels, Belgium


Abstract

The relationship between people and animals covers a spectrum that ranges between healthy and abusive according to social context and the choices that one makes. One location where people interact with animals is the field of education: the school, university or training centre. The teaching of animal welfare is a matter that goes beyond the acquisition of knowledge about welfare and extends to the explicit and implicit lessons presented by the nature of the interaction with animals in education. Interactions with the classroom pet, and animal use within biological science, medical and veterinary medical education and training provide lessons which may support animal welfare education or may negate it. Animal experimentation and the dissection of purpose killed animals provide a number of significant but negative lessons, including the ‘acceptability’ of harmful, instrumental use of animals. The linking of animal welfare education to the replacement of harmful animal use with humane alternative methods can help ensure that the teaching and realisation of animal welfare is effective and sustainable. The International Network for Humane Education (InterNICHE) has been working internationally to promote and implement alternatives in education and training for over 20 years, facilitating replacement and building a broad network with contacts in over 50 countries. From the InterNICHE experience, successful international work requires qualities and practices from organisations that include: a bold and positive vision, a strategic focus along with an awareness of the intersection between issues; a commitment to pro-actively catalyse change and create win-win solutions; the design of organisational structures conducive to participatory democracy, alliance building and the organic growth of the network; the practice of solidarity and support for local initiatives; and the provision of resources and training for action and capacity building. InterNICHE projects include the production and translations of printed, video and website information resources; the maintenance of libraries for free trial of alternatives; an international grant program for local development and implementation of humane learning tools, including freeware; the provision of support for student conscientious objectors; and the organisation of conferences, outreach tours, and training in alternatives for teachers. The challenges met within such work will be explored, and suggestions of how to overcome them will be given.



Author's contacts: coordinator@interniche.org

Author's keywords: alternatives, replacement, InterNICHE, Humane education, animals, dissection, experiments, teaching objectives