The education we receive during childhood and adolescence plays a decisive role in shaping our worldview. It is during these stages that the foundations of critical thinking are laid, fundamental values are acquired, and the ability to question the norms that govern our societies is developed.

Unfortunately, the values with which young people have been educated regarding other animals have generally and systematically promoted discrimination against them, normalizing their exploitation and perpetuating speciesism.

In Spain, the current education law, LOMLOE, explicitly acknowledges this issue by stating that the education system should promote 'the acquisition of values that foster respect for living beings and animal rights' (Article 1), and establishes as one of its guiding principles 'education in values that support democratic coexistence, solidarity, tolerance, equality… in particular towards animals' (Article 2). Despite this legal framework, we find that there is practically no sufficient interest from administrations, nor are there enough teachers with the necessary training to effectively teach these topics.

Fortunately, there are those who try to fill this gap in education, as is the case in Spain with the association Aula Animal.

In this audiovisual report, its founders Pilar Badía and D. Hernán share with us how they got started and how they address speciesism and critical thinking in schools.

Properly educating younger generations is essential for creating a better future for all sentient beings. Moreover, those who are in classrooms today could become influential professionals tomorrow—in shaping laws, teaching in schools and universities, or even developing technologies that improve the lives of other animals. Everything depends on the values we instill in them today.

 1. Spain, Organic Law 3/2020 of December 29, amending Organic Law 2/2006 of May 3 on Education. Official State Gazette, December 30, 2020, no. 340. https://www.boe.es/diario_boe/txt.php?id=BOE-A-2020-17264

The project Educating Respect for Animals: Addressing Speciesism in Schools was carried out collaboratively by Aula Animal and Animals' View. On the website of Aula Animal additional material for teachers and students is available.

The audiovisual report was produced by Xiana Castro, with the collaboration of Linas Korta and Craig Redmond.
Photographs by Bel González and Craig Redmond.