PETA asks for empathy lessons in school after dead shark found hung up at Ponte Vedra High School

ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. — PETA is pushing for empathy lessons in St. Johns County schools following an incident where students hung up a dead shark in the rafters at Ponte Vedra High School on May 5.

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The organization sent out a letter to St. Johns County School District with the intent of providing the district with a K-12 kindness-to-animals curriculum, as well as “Empathy Now,” which is a guide to prevent youth from committing violence against animals.

The curriculum would be a part of PETA’s “TeachKind” humane education division and would offer free, empathy-building virtual presentations.

“Compassion and empathy can be learned, and TeachKind is on standby to help schools teach young people that everyone deserves respect, whether a shark or a student,” said Marta Holmberg, PETA’s Senior Director of Youth Programs.

Action News Jax has reached out to SJCSD for a response and we are waiting to hear back.

To learn more about TeachKind, click here.

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