Addressing the Standards in Illinois

To assist with incorporating humane education in schools, lessons and activities can be found to correspond with multiple Illinois Learning Standards. Student learning and activity goals match directly with many performance indicators within the following goals. Humane Education Programs assists teachers in determining which performance indicators will be met during lessons for each grade level.

Goal 4 Listening and Speaking

A. Listen effectively in formal and informal situations.

B. Speak effectively using language appropriate to the situation and audience.

Goal 11 Inquiry and Design

A. Know and apply the concepts, principles and processes of scientific inquiry.

Goal 12 Concepts and Principles

A. Know and apply concepts that explain how living things function, adapt and change.

B. Know and apply concepts that describe how living things interact with each other and
with their environment.

E. Know and apply concepts that describe the features and processes of the earth and its
resources.

Goal 15 Economics

A. Understand how different economic systems operate in the exchange, production, 
distribution and consumption of goods and services.

B. Understand that scarcity necessitates choices by consumers.

C. Understand that scarcity necessitates choices by producers.

E. Understand the impact of government policies and decisions on production and 
consumption in the economy.

Goal 16 History

A. Apply the skills of historical analysis and interpretation

D. Understand Illinois, United States and world social history.

E. Understand Illinois, United States and world environmental history.

Goal 17 Geography

B. Analyze and explain characteristics and interactions of the Earth’s physical systems.

C. Understand relationships between geographic factors and society.

Goal 18 Social Systems

A. Compare characteristics of culture as reflected in language, literature, the arts,
traditions and institutions.

B. Understand the roles and interactions of individuals and groups in society.

C. Understand how social systems form and develop over time.

Goal Teambuilding

A. Demonstrate individual responsibility during group physical activities.

B. Demonstrate cooperative skills during structured group physical activity.

Goal 24 Communication and decision making

A. Demonstrate procedures for communicating in positive ways, resolving differences 
and preventing conflict.

B. Apply decision making skills related to the protection and promotion of individual
health.

The above goals and standards are taken as excerpts from the Illinois State Board of Education, Goals and Standards.

The state of Illinois has recognized the importance of humane education by putting forth the following laws.  It is within the mission of Humane Education Programs to assist with the compliance of these laws.

Illinois

(105 ILCS 5/27-13.1)

Sec. 27-13.1. In every public school there shall be instruction, study and discussion of current problems and needs in the conservation of natural resources, including but not limited to air pollution, water pollution, waste reduction and recycling, the effects of excessive use of pesticides, preservation of wilderness areas, forest management, protection of wildlife and humane care of domestic animals.
(Source: P.A. 86-229.)

(105 ILCS 5/27-14)
Sec. 27-14. Experiments upon animals.
No experiment upon any living animal for the purpose of demonstration in any study shall be made in any public school. No animal provided by, or killed in the presence of any pupil of a public school shall be used for dissection in such school, and in no case shall dogs or cats be killed for such purposes. Dissection of dead animals, or parts thereof, shall be confined to the classroom and shall  not be practiced in the presence of any pupil not engaged in the study to be illustrated thereby.
(Source: Laws 1961, p. 31.)

(105 ILCS 5/27-15)
Sec. 27-15. Moral and humane education - In institute programs. The superintendent of each region and city shall include once each year moral and humane education in the program of the teachers' institute which is held under his supervision.
(Source: P.A. 79-597.)

(105 ILCS 5/27-18)
Sec. 27-18. Arbor and bird day.
The Governor shall annually designate by official proclamation a day in the spring to be known as "Arbor and Bird Day," to be observed throughout the State as a day for planting trees, shrubs and vines about public grounds, and as a day on which to hold appropriate exercises in the public schools and elsewhere tending to show the value of trees and birds and the necessity for their protection.
(Source: Laws 1961, p. 31.)