Valley Center High receives empathy curriculum from PETA after baseball team reportedly kills chicken

For immediate release:
April 25, 2024

Contact:
Sara Groves 202-483-7382

Valley Center, Kan. –

Following reports that the Valley Center High School varsity baseball team and coaching staff are currently under investigation for animal cruelty after allegedly killing a chicken on April 20, apparently on the school’s baseball diamond, TeachKind – PETA’s humane education division – Principal Eric Flaton today sent a letter urging him to help prevent future acts of violence by incorporating humane education into school curricula. To support this, the group sent the school animal-kindness materials, including “Empathy Now,” a guide to youth violence prevention, and “Challenging Assumptions,” which helps students explore discrimination and other social justice issues. TeachKind also offers the school a class set Animalkind: Remarkable discoveries about animals and revolutionary new ways to show them compassionby PETA President Ingrid Newkirk.

According to reports, the baseball team killed the chicken before leaving for an away game. The team’s season has been suspended pending the outcome of the investigation.

“An epidemic of youth violence is sweeping through our schools, and—as evidenced by the killing of this chicken—it is critical that young people learn empathy from an early age,” said Marta Holmberg, PETA’s Senior Director of Youth Programs. “Compassion can be cultivated, and TeachKind stands ready to help Valley Center High School teach its students that every living being, whether a chicken or a classmate, deserves empathy and respect.”

Sandy Hook Promise has included cruelty to animals in its “10 Critical Warning Signs of Violence” list, and research shows that approximately 43% of school shooters committed acts of cruelty to animals first – so animal abusers potentially pose a serious threat to communities as a whole. TeachKind resources are easily integrated into existing school curricula to help prevent future violence.

PETA – whose motto reads in part that “animals are not ours to abuse in any way” – points out that every animal is someone and offers free Empathy Kits for people who need a lesson in kindness. TeachKind offers free presentations, lessons, and other resources to help teachers add compassion to their curricula. For more information please visit TeachKind.org or follow the group Facebook or Instagram.