They foster a compassionate, just, sustainable world by training humane educators and by providing people with the tools, knowledge and motivation to live an examined, meaningful life and to becoming changemakers for a better world.
The IHE is offering a course for parents on Raising a Humane Child. What got me really was the whole idea of needing a course to teach your child how to be humane. Have we seriously come that far that we have forgotten what humanity really is that we now need to take a class to pass those core values on to our children? I always thought the best way to teach a child, quite literally how to be kind and caring, was to lead by example. The whole idea makes me question who the class is really needed for, children or parents, and what does it mean when being ‘humane’ no longer comes natural?
The IHE stated that the course;
“…will expand parents’ strategies to help them bring humane concepts and values to their children and manifest their vision for a better world, starting with their family. Participants will learn to help their children become more compassionate citizens and to make choices that demonstrate respect for the environment, other species and all people.”
Maybe I am a little harsh and cynical, however I think its sad that there is an obvious need for such a course and that parents feel that they are not equipped with the tools to provide their children the keys to a humane future. My parents are the farthest two people from ever taking a parenting class of any kind, they both grew up in the school of tough love and pass it right on down. However they also passed down caring, respect and a genuine need to be selfless to both others and the world around us. There was no book or instruction manual, they did what they were taught was right…they were taught and instilled in their children the need to give to those in need and that no matter what you have someone else always has less, that there is never a wasted smile, a door is never too heavy to hold open and to care for all people and animals as we would want to be treated.
Maybe a course isn’t what parents and children need, but a moment to step back from what has become the rat race of their lives to turn off the TVs and just take a moment to evaluate the world we live in. The real course on how to be humane is sitting right in front of you.