The case for humane education in social work education

Abstract

Humane education focuses on the interconnectedness between human rights, environmental sustainability, and animal protection, and started in the United States in 1996 through the Institute of Humane Education. While social work and social work education has emphasized human rights, the ecological, person-in-environment perspectives need to be expanded to include environmental preservation and animal welfare considering the numerous negative consequences on the global ecosystems. This article makes the case that humane education is an interdisciplinary link for helping social work educators expand their definitions of environmental justice and human–animal relationships so that student ecological consciousness includes the welfare of humans, nonhumans, and the broader ecosystem in their pursuit of change. It offers practical suggestions for opportunities to do this in the social work curriculum.

Keywords:

• Humane education
• social work education
• person-in-environment
• ecological perspective
• environmental justice
• ecological justice
• human–animal relationship