(United Federation of Teachers' Humane Education Committee Chairwoman Sheila Schwartz, LOHV-NYC's executive director John Phillips and Humane Education Advocates Reaching Teachers executive director Meena Alagappan testifying before the City Council)
On Monday, LOHV-NYC executive director John Phillips testified before the City Council on the importance of humane education and urged the passage of Council Member Avella's Resolution 497, stating:
60 years after the state legislature enacted a humane education law, we wonder: What happened? This law has been forgotten or ignored. Today, few schools have anything resembling humane education. How did this happen? New York City, especially, is a city of animal lovers and pet owners. The Council has a tremendous opportunity with Resolution 497 to right this error and to help potentially millions of children and animals in the process.John also read a statement in support prepared by Congressman Eliot Engel. Click here to read the Congressman's statement. Council Members Jackson and Vacca also spoke very highly of humane education and called for the passage of Resolution 497.... 60 years after the state legislature enacted a humane education law, we find: New Yorkers still want humane education in the classroom. We have a responsibility to our children to ensure that they have the best education possible, and that means including humane education as part of the curriculum.