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Give Your School
Board a Lesson in Circus Cruelty
When Chicago parent Julie Ferguson chaperoned a classroom field trip
to the Medinah Shrine Circus, the excitement turned to horror after
the elephant act. In a letter to the editor, Julie wrote, "When the
elephants were brought behind the curtain, the trainer began verbally
abusing and hitting the elephant. We watched in horror as he swung
a stick with all his force and struck the elephant in the back of
the leg. This must have hurt because the elephant let out a scream.
… The kids were frightened and asked me why the man was hurting the
elephant. … Instead of learning about the magnificence of elephant
behavior, the children witnessed human behavior at its worst. They
learned the ugly truth about how animals are treated in circuses."
Another lesson that impressionable young children could learn from
these hideous spectacles is a dangerous one: aberrant behavior. Child
psychologists warn that watching animals being hit, prodded, injured,
and humiliated for entertainment desensitizes children to the suffering
of others.
Circus promoters use our schools—and children—as marketing tools. Many
circuses target schools to help with promotions, enticing them to
organize field trips to the circus, distribute free or discounted
tickets, sponsor the circus, or host the circus on school property.
Parents, members of the community, and even students need to meet with
school boards to discourage school promotions of circuses with animal
acts. When they do, school boards listen! One high school student wrote
to PETA after her presentation and reported, "[The school board] thought
that the presentation was very good, they enjoyed the packets that you
sent, and the superintendent agreed NOT to approve any field trip that
is related to any non-animal-friendly facility, including circuses."
You can make a difference in your community. PETA is offering a "circus
education guide" with a step-by-step guide to assist you in approaching
your school board. Also included is a booklet called "3
Important Reasons Not to Take Children to the Circus" and PETA’s
shocking new video "Circus Elephants: Training & Tragedy," which shows
elephants screaming in agony as a sharp bullhook tears through their
flesh. Your school board will cut cruel animal acts from the curriculum
and thank you for exposing the big lie behind the big top.
You can help stop the suffering of elephants, tigers, and other animals
abused in the name of "entertainment." Click
here to support PETA's vital work.
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'Make 'Em Scream': Watch Standard Elephant-Training Practices
Ringling Bros. Exposed
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