24/06/2026
I went to watch Miller in his school speech finals today. For the record I had absolutely no part in helping him choose a subject or write his speech. I didn't see it until it was finished. But I was blown away that he's taken in what I do for a job and how special it is for him to have animals in his life. I asked if he'd let me record him saying it but unfortunately the best I got was a pdf to copy. I thought it was perfect reading for this page 😊
Why we should add an extra subject on
animals in school
"Until one has loved an animal, a part of one's soul remains unawakened." — Anatole
France.
Last year I brought my piglet into school and it went through classrooms, and you
should've seen how many smiles were on the kids' faces. Ninety percent of those kids
had never seen a pig in person before, let alone a piglet. We learn math to handle
money, and science to understand the earth, but we often forget to learn about the
living, feeling creatures we share this planet with. Adding a dedicated class about
animals is not just about learning cool facts; it is an investment in our character and
our future.
Firstly, learning about animals is one of the most effective ways to develop empathy
and compassion. When students are taught to understand the needs, feelings, and
behaviors of other living beings, they naturally transfer those skills to their relationships
with other people. Understanding that animals are sentient beings—meaning they feel
pain, fear, and joy—teaches us to respect life. For young minds, this is the building block
of a compassionate, non-violent, and tolerant society.
Secondly, learning about animals can significantly improve classroom culture and
student mental health. Studies have shown that interacting with or simply observing
animals can reduce stress, ease anxiety, and create a calmer learning environment. For
students who may struggle with standard subjects, a topic they are genuinely
passionate about can boost their confidence, motivation, and overall engagement in their education.
Finally, learning about agricultural animals at our school would teach us life lessons we
cannot learn from books. Many teenagers today have no idea where their food comes
from or how much work goes into farming. By caring for agricultural animals, we would
learn real responsibility, empathy, and patience. It also makes science class much more
exciting because we can see topics like genetics and nutrition happen in real life. Plus, it
opens our eyes to cool, modern careers in farming, technology, and animal care that
we might want to do in the future.
In conclusion, adding an animal-focused subject to our schools goes far beyond basic
biology. It teaches us empathy, gives us a sense of global responsibility, and helps
create a happier, more peaceful learning environment. By understanding the animals
we share this world with, we ultimately learn how to be better humans. Thank you.
