As many of you know, the League of Humane Voters of New York City (LOHV-NYC) has been working with Humane Education Advocates Reaching Teachers (HEART) to help make elected officials aware of the strong Humane Education laws currently on the books in New York.  These laws include: 1) Section 809, enacted in 1947, which requires publicly-funded elementary schools to provide instruction in the humane treatment and protection of animals (the majority of educators in New York State are not aware that Section 809 exists); and 2) the more recently passed Project SAVE legislation (Safe Schools Against Violence in Education Act), which calls for instruction in character education in grades K through 12.

As you might imagine, it's very hard to bring humane education into schools despite the law.  As we work to make Council Members aware of the existing law, we are asking for letters of support and endorsements.

One of the first Council Members to open doors for HEART is newly-elected Council Member Rosie Mendez (D-Manhattan), whom the League endorsed last year.  Shortly after we met with her back in February, Rosie was on the move, chatting up the importance of humane education.

We are now thrilled to announce that PS188, located on the lower east side, will be one of the first to offer HEART’s humane education curriculum to its 5th, 6th and 7th grade students in the 2006-2007 academic year -- thanks to Rosie’s referral.

If you live on the lower east side or you are an educator, please call Rosie and personally thank her for support of humane legislation and humane education: (212) 677-1077.