Video of Turkey Beaten to Death By Teen Prompts Offer of Humane Education

PETA Stresses Need to Teach Anti-Bullying and Empathy in the Classroom

For Immediate Release:
May 3, 2018

Contact:
Brooke Rossi 202-483-7382

After a video circulated on Facebook showing a Hanoverton teenager beating a turkey to death with what appears to be an ax handle as another teen, who was reportedly filming the video, encourages him, TeachKind—PETA’s humane education division—sent letters this morning calling on schools in the area to implement lessons in compassion.

TeachKind—whose motto reads, in part, that “animals are not ours to abuse in any way”—will mail Columbiana County elementary schools free copies of its Share the World curriculum kit, which includes lesson plans designed to help educators teach students about empathy and kindness to animals. The group has also offered the middle and high schools in the county free “Bullies Are Just Cowards: Report Abuse When You See It!” posters, noting that it’s vital that a standard of compassion be set and that students be taught that violence toward any living, feeling being is wrong.

“In light of this act of violence and the bullying epidemic in schools today, it’s crucial that educators teach students that it’s not acceptable to hurt animals, let alone beat them to death and brag about it on social media,” says PETA Senior Director of Youth Outreach and Campaigns Marta Holmberg. “TeachKind is urging Columbiana County schools to implement humane education and encourage students to report any abuse to animals that they witness.”

TeachKind notes that individuals who demonstrate a blatant disregard for life by hurting animals rarely stop there. According to leading mental-health professionals and law-enforcement agencies, perpetrators of violent acts against animals are often repeat offenders who pose a serious threat to the community at large. TeachKind’s staff is available to send materials to schools, suggest lesson plans, and even host classroom presentations for students via Skype—all free of charge.

The group’s letter is available upon request. For more information, please visit TeachKind.org.