The Educational Significance of Human and Non-Human Animal Interactions

"Rice and Rud have edited a landmark anthology. The essays in this volume represent major contributions to the relatively young discipline of human-animal studies while introducing a powerful new perspective into education." - Jane Roland Martin, author of Education Reconfigured: Culture, Encounter, and Change (2011) "I commend the editors for drawing together essays that are beautifully written and address critical questions regarding our ethical responsibilities to other animals and this planet. Students will find these essays accessible and probably jarring given the issues addressed, and this is exactly what we need to move us beyond the human-centric perspectives that have brought us to the brink of ecological disaster. A very useful text for educators!" - Rebecca Martusewicz, co-author of EcoJustice Education: Toward Diverse, Democratic, and Sustainable Communities (2011) "This book is a timely overview of the educational implications of the new field of human-animal studies. With chapters ranging from the redemptive power of dogs for alcoholics and eco-justice as a foundation for educational reform to the hidden curriculum of veterinary schools and our moral obligations to vermin, The Educational Significance of Human and Non-Human Animal Interactions is eclectic, intellectually challenging, and important." - Hal Herzog, author of Some We Love, Some We Hate, Some We Eat: Why It's So Hard To Think Straight About Animals< (2011) "The Educational Significance of Human and Non-Human Animal Interactions is a groundbreaking collection that helps us understand not just how to address our human-animal relationships within educational settings, but about the importance of the lessons we can learn from other animals." - Lori Gruen, author of Entangled Empathy: An Alternative Ethic for our Relationships with Animals (2015) and Ethics and Animals (2011)

The Educational Significance of Human and Non-Human Animal Interactions explores human animal/non-human animal interactions from different disciplinary perspectives, from education policy to philosophy of education and ecopedagogy.The Educational Significance of Human and Non-Human Animal Interactions explores human animal/non-human animal interactions from different disciplinary perspectives, from education policy to philosophy of education and ecopedagogy. The authors refute the idea of anthropocentrism (the belief that human beings are the central or most significant species on the planet) through an ethical investigation into animal and human interactions, and 'real-life' examples of humans and animals living and learning together. In doing so, Rice and Rud outline the idea that interactions between animals and humans are educationally significant and vital in the classroom.