Assessing the Status of Animal Rights Components in Elementary School Textbooks

One of the topics to be considered in students' curriculum is respect for the rights of other humans and animals. This study aimed to assess the status of animal rights components in elementary school textbooks.

In this qualitative study, the statistical population consisted of textbooks of experimental sciences, social studies and heavenly gifts, third to sixth grade of elementary school in the academic year 2018-19. The data collection tool was a checklist that was based on 7 components of animal rights. The unit of analysis was the page (text, questions, exercises, and pictures). For analyzing the components, distributive frequency and the Shannon entropy index were used.

The animal rights components included how to treat animals; to take care of animals; to reproduce and nurture animals and the position of animals in human life have not been paid sufficient attention, and their distribution has not been in a balanced and same manner. The component of "familiarity with animals and their status" had the highest frequency and the component of how to treat animals had the least frequency. Also, in terms of importance, the component of familiarity with animals and their position had the highest importance factor in social studies books and the component of taking care of animals had the least importance factor.

The findings show that the components of animal rights have not been adequately distributed and balanced in elementary school textbooks. Utilization of the results in the review of these textbooks is highly recommended.