Jack is no stranger to helping animals. At just 13 he plays an active role in helping out many organisations including Animals Australia, the Vegetarian Society, and Unleashed, and spends many a weekend speaking up for animals on the streets of Melbourne! But it was what he was able to achieve within school grounds that caught our attention...
Like many thoughtful students, Jack was cut up by his school's policy on dissection and decided to take action. A letter to the coordinators of his school Science program outlining the compassionate alternatives to dissecting pieces of slaughtered animals now means that students at his school are given the choice not to dissect!
But not content with just one victory in the Science department, Jack took his campaigning one step further. He enlisted the help of his school animal rights club (which he set up) and supplied his school science teachers with info packs, lesson plans and interactive activities that were designed to inform students about ethics and animal rights issues such as the treatment of animals on factory farms, and why most people love some animals and eat others...
After a lot of hard work and perseverance, the years 5 - 12 Science classes at Jack's school each now have a term that covers issues about animal ethics, inspiring heaps of students to think for themselves about the lives led by animals who are unfortunate enough to become hamburgers and testing subjects. Raising this level of awareness among peers can only mean good things for animals :-)
To top it off, Jack is also campaigning to get his school canteen to go cage-free! Way to go Jack!
Kaytee's school uniform policy was full of animal products like compulsory leather shoes, and woollen jumpers — but with one letter describing the cruelty and environmental impact of these products she was able to change that! Check out what she sent to the school principal which resulted in a change to her school uniform policy:
To [the principal],
I write to you in regard to our school's current stance in becoming a more environmentally friendly institution. In light of the world's current situation I feel this is a very important stance to take. I'm extremely happy to be part of a school that is so committed to lessening our environmental footprint. In saying this I would like to call into question our current school uniform requirements. I believe these requirements are completely outdated and do nothing in our promotion of becoming more environmentally friendly. I understand a uniform that meets OHS requirements is necessary, and uniforms should be smart and practical. I also feel the school can still achieve this, in addition to becoming more environmentally aware. I want to bring attention to the uniform policy's specifics in outlining the need for leather-inclosed shoes and a woolen jumper. I understand that these materials are substantial and everlasting, a practical requirement for our uniform, but I feel the disregard to mention an alternative is highly prejudicial and ignorant in the stance of our current world crisis. I want to point out to you the fact that Leather, not only supports a corporation of immorality and cruelty towards animals, especially in Australia, but also its contribution to environmental disaster. The production of leather, as well as all factory-farming institutions together contributes to two thirds of the world's gas emissions. This is more than any combination of factories. It has also been proven that 70% of Australia's water usage is used in the production of meat products or animal byproducts, including Leather and wool. I think before we should start shortening our showers we should look to what we eat, drink and wear!
I don't advise you to take out the words leather or woolen as I am accepting of these products as practically choices for families to make, I just wish that our school in the next production of our schools uniform policy provided alternatives to these particular products. I believe in doing this we are no longer solely promoting highly unenviromental products, but we are also opening up a world of alternatives for families to participate in a more environmentally friendly cycle. Leather alternatives are not only just as practical and substantial as leather, but they are often one third of the price.
I know most teacher's are lenient and will accept leather alternatives if a child chooses to wear them, but I think it is important to mention this in our uniform policy, so parents are made aware of this factor, and alternative are also promoted.
I know you may not, or many may not, agree on my stance to leather & wool, but even so, I feel that a disregard to those who do is highly prejudice and unfair. I feel that if the facts are there, and if all the school has to do to fix this issue is include a few words in the next copy of the school uniform requirements, than I see no excuse as to why we should not. I believe to include alternatives we are taking a step forward as a school in the promotion of a more environmentally friendly world for the future.
I really hope you take my advice to consideration, and thank you so much for your time.
Sincerely,
[Kaytee]
Year 11
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