Good catch David.

I understand that this site isn’t about Peta but sometimes they ARE intertwined with HSUS and that needs to come out. Many HSUS supporters would not support Peta due to their more radical views, but they may not know of these connections.

Keep up the good work!

I’m actually inclined to give HSUS some kudos and encouragement on this one.  Now, wait, hear me out…

In the “just say no”, anti-smoking , and the abstinence only campaigns targeting children, the promoters did/do a lot of fuzzy things that the kids later perceived as blatant outright lies or lies by omission.  Kids turn into cynical teens.  Anyone checked the news lately?  Smoking is on the rise again, as is teen pregnancy and drug use.

HSUS may just be fueling the next generation of teens who will rebel against them.

Yes, their lesson plans are showing up in Illinois and seem to come up for staff training on internet training seminars. 

I am a retired teacher, and a teacher friend called a few months ago to say that activist lesson plans were being introduced to third graders on “genetics.”  When she challenged the appropriateness of such an advanced science topic for 9-year-olds, she was assured that the lessons were being used “with much enthusiastic response ” from teachers in the Chicago suburbs.

Of course the presenter then went into “sci-fi” mode with a blank stare when asked names of teachers and schools. She then added that there are always more than one way to look at a situation.  Yes, and only ONE of those ways was being presented to impressionable kids by pathetically impressionable teachers without the approval of the State of Illinois, which now uses a tighter curricular program for each grade.

If half of those school boards and administrators even knew what was being presented, it would hit the fan. Sounds like something worth doing.

As a Cavs fan, I’m pretty disappointed to see Mo Williams participating in this garbage.

I guess I’ll just blame HSUS for Mo playing like crap last night against the Celtics.

David- when is the first addition of KindER going to be in circulation?  No, seriously, I don’t think we need to stoop to their level.  However, maybe something could be produced for high-school aged FFA kids.  Many underfunded rural school districts don’t even have FFA anymore, but FFA has become widespread, and is growing, in urban/suburban districts.  For now, an email will be sent to my state department of education, if unresponded, a certified letter will follow.  Great post! Keep up the good work!

I don’t think FFA and 4-H work well for most urban students.  How about Pet Explorers or Animal Care Explorers to teach children about the full range of animal care?  I was in Police Explorers as a teen and it was a great program for boys and girls.
http://www.learningforlife.org/exploring/lawenforcement/

Have you all seen this yet?:

http://www.saova.org/SpayNeuterHSUS.html

Breaking News!! from lobbyist Frank Losey
Two members of Congress (Congressman Luetkemeyer from Missouri and
Congressman Visclosky from Indiana) have sent letters to the IRS
Commissioner and asked the Commissioner to address some of the
concerns of their constituents as they relate to lobbying activities
of the HSUS. This is very significant because the IRS Commissioner is
the highest ranking Official in the Internal Revenue Service. Maybe,
just maybe the door will open for consideration to be given to
amending the Internal Revenue Code in order to define the phrase “no
substantial part” of lobbying by a public charity, such as HSUS. And
the Amendment could be called “The Public Charity Integrity Act.”

More here:

http://www.saova.org/SpayNeuterHSUS.html

4-H is absolutely suitable for urban areas -  anyone who wants to start a club should contact the county extension office. Every county has an office. If they say they don’t have a 4-H program, contact the adjoining county. The ‘problem’ in some areas might be finding willing and knowledgeable leadership, although 4-H does a great job with leader training. There’s no better place to start than with the uninitiated.

Re KIND in schools: maybe the place to start with this issue is teachers themselves. I’d be willing to bet that most of them who use KIND have absolutely NO clue what HSUS is about.

Yes, FFA and 4H is very suitable for urban youth. They have both redesigned themselves to be responsive to the needs of the students. Link to your local Cooperative Extension web site and explore the projects and activities available today. Many of the FFA programs in the schools are teaching classes that meet science credit requirements. Classes can lead to careers in food science, horticulture, veterinary science, etc. Companion animal management is a popular elective.

If the teachers are just sending the newsletter home, the burden is on the parents to monitor what their children are reading and whether they approve or disapprove.  It’s just possible that some of them want their children to learn to become politically active about things worth caring aboutl

I have heard of numerous times PETA has done things that have resulted in the deaths of animals. This is the first time I have heard of a direct act that resulted in the deaths of animals but I am not surprised. The offenders were aquitted which is going to make it harder to convict other animal murderers. Don’t expect justice out of the judicial system. Not going to happen. This is a perfect example.

Excuse me, but what about free speech here, kids have a right to know what kind of World they are growing up in- just as we did! We recall that in the 60’s and 70’s we were glad there were grassroots organizations to enlighten us-

Seems the adult thing to do is take it up with PETA~ and leave the kids out of this fight!

If you do not like what they are saying then make them accountable-

Kids might a ‘right’ to know what’s happening in their world, but adults have a responsibility to make sure the information those kids receive is accurate and not scare-mongering.

Taking up the issue with PETA?? Seriously? PETA has no intention of being accountable other to themselves and to what suits their views.

With all the unsavory stuff the schools and the media are pushing at the kids…what does THIS matter??  What’s the worst that can happen; they might choose to be vegetarians?  A lady above had a novel thought:  How about checking out what your kids bring home from school?

I think some are forgetting that most schools use tax payer dollars as the primary source of funding—that is the case for public schools.  It is a violation of federal and state funding laws for any school that is the recipient of federal or state funding to promote or distribute political action materials to students.  That is why there can be no election posters, teacher union posters, or even school board election and referendum promotional materials on school property where students have access. 

This insidious distribution of materials by an organization that carries such pervasive influence in local, state, and federal legislation is a violation of trust of the schools and the staff that permits its distribution.  Moreover, it may well be grounds for the termination of federal and state funding of those same schools if the case was made in court.

I have school age children, and as a dog enthusiast I would be absolutely irate if I found out that HSUS material was being given as reading material to my children.

It is no different than if they were given religious materials, because HSUS is an extremist animal worshiping group in my opinion. 

They are a direct enemy of anyone who enjoys working with animals in competition or sport, or anyone who likes purebred animals.  They are more dangerous than PETA because what they do seems so small and innocent at first. 

Who would WANT to be “against helping shelter dogs”?  But helping shelter dogs isn’t what they are about. They are about ending dogs in shelters by ending all planned dog breeding. 

If HSUS continues to buy our political system, just like any other big group or corporation, I am moving to Canada—and I will get free health care besides.

Who would sue for termination of the funding of the schools?  Big agriculture?  That would make them popular with the people who work for them everyday.  The parents of the affected children?  Without federal and state funding, they would have to pay for the school system totally on local revenue, which we all know is probably impossible unless the community decided not to have police or fire departments or to let everyone out of jail.  I’m not saying you are wrong, I’m just saying as a practical matter, a “cease and desist order” is about the best thing and probably the only thing that would be considered as a practical matter.  Otherwise, you end up punishing the wrong people.  Now if that statute calls for fines for knowingly placing lobbying information in a public school, we might be talking.

While it’s a bit off the main subject, I am in agreement with Jeanine regarding the stand of both PETA and HUSA as to purebred dogs.  I personally believe there is a place for responsibly bred purebred dogs.  I own two purebred dogs; one came from a reputable breeder and one came via a breed rescue club from a high kill animal control “shelter”.  Without purebred dogs, we lose hundreds of years of humankind’s bond with dogs, and their unique qualities as shepherd, hunter, ratter, guardian, draft animal, life guard, ski patroller, and much more.  I, for one, believe the fluidity of the dog’s DNA is an amazing gift that needs to be protected.

THANK YOU for writing about this. My kids came home with those last month and I started getting curious. Now I know better.

I read my daughter’s KIND News last night.  Woah!

I’m fine with the existence of the humane society.  It’s good to have different people and groups out there who are passionate about their cause.  But don’t give this stuff directly to kids.  Being kind to animals?  Great.  Encouraging boycotts and telling them who to write for what legislation to go through?  Absolutely not.  Whether the specific legislation is a good idea or not is irrelevant.  What if the NRA had a newsletter about gun rights and told kids to write senators to pass certain legislation?

Whether or not you agree with the cause, let’s not turn our kids into political activists for a specific cause at that young age!  Not all papers make it home to parents, and not all parents go through everything their kid brings home. 

Even so, I’d rather not have to play defense and constantly have to watch out for discussions I’m forced into having with my kids when they get inappropriate material at school.  I’m glad to have the conversation at some point, but leave it to the parents.