Animal protection institute, Voiceless, has released its first education program for high school students – ‘Dolphins in Captivity’. It aims to introduce students to a wide range of issues and concepts by encouraging research, discussion and debate.
According to Voiceless, which works to promote respect and compassion for animals, the program is the first of its kind to be offered in Australian schools.
“Our Animal Protection Education (APE) programs are created by educators for educators and are very easy for teachers to use in the classroom,” said Ondine Sherman, Co-founder and Managing Director of Voiceless.
The programs investigate key animal protection issues and ethical and legal concepts through a suite of resources including videos, podcasts, fact sheets and infographics, as well as classroom activities which are linked with the Australian Curriculum. It includes resources developed to run alongside activities in Geography, English, Science, History, Civics and Citizenship, and the Arts.
“This approach encourages students to think critically about the future of dolphin captivity, providing them with all of the information they need to develop an informed position on the issue,” added Ms Sherman.
“Resources, including interviews with scientists, lawyers and advocates, introduce students to some of the key issues raised by holding dolphins in marine parks, aquariums and research facilities around the world, encouraging students to consider the arguments both ‘for’ and ‘against’ keeping dolphins in captivity.”
