Florence schools to receive empathy curriculum after teens set opossum on fire in social media video
FLORENCE, S.C. (WBTW) — TeachKind, PETA’s humane education division, sent Florence 1 Schools Superintendent Richard O’Malley an urgent letter about the need for humane education after two juveniles posted a video on social media setting an opossum on fire, kicking, and stomping the animal.
The two juveniles, aged 15 and 17, were arrested and charged with ill treatment of an animal.
TeachKind also sent a letter to Clarendon County School District Superintendent Shawn Johnson. Both districts kindness-to-animals educational materials, including Empathy Now, a guide to preventing violence by young people, and Challenging Assumptions, which helps students examine discrimination and other social justice issues, PETA said in a news release.
The group also sent high schools’ copies of Animalkind: Remarkable Discoveries About Animals and Revolutionary New Ways to Show Them Compassion by PETA President Ingrid Newkirk, the release said.
“When young people torture and kill an animal and gloat about it on social media, that’s a clear sign that humane education is sorely needed,” said PETA Senior Director of Youth Programs Marta Holmberg. “Compassion can be cultivated, and TeachKind stands ready to help South Carolina schools teach their students that every sentient being deserves empathy and respect.”
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Taylor Ford is a digital journalist for News13. She joined the News13 team in January 2023. Taylor is a Florence native and covers the Pee Dee out of News13’s Florence Bureau. Read more of Taylor’s work here.
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