What do you think?
Rate this book
Veducated! An Educator's Guide for Vegan-Inclusive Teaching
Veducated is a guidebook for education professionals who wish to learn more about veganism, how to engage with children and parents who are vegan, and how to incorporate lessons and policies to be as inclusive as possible. This honest, informative, and practical guide contains useful facts, hints, tips, and ready-to-use lesson plans all with the vegan child's viewpoint in mind. Suggestions made are easily digestible and executable as Chepner brings with her many years of teaching experience. The book was written with primary educators in mind, though the material is applicable across various age groups and educational settings. Veducated will assist education professionals in ensuring that the growing number of vegan students in our classrooms are treated equally, which will not only assist learning for the vegan child, but may also have a profound effect on the whole educational ethos and beyond.
160 pages, Paperback
Published March 22, 2020
3 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
May 12, 2020
VEDUCATED! fills a need that previously had few resources. As veganism becomes more visible in society and more parents are choosing to raise vegan children, it's not unsurprising that there will be questions and misunderstandings when young vegans head off to school. I could definitely see vegan parents presenting this book to their child's teacher at the beginning of the school year, or at least using it for ideas when making a more concise lists of their child's needs.
This book was written in the UK, so most of the facts and figures apply to that region specifically, but the overall theme of what veganism is and what an inclusive and welcoming classroom might look like is going to be fairly universal.
Many people, including teachers, still don't understand that veganism isn't just a fad diet, but rather an extension of deeply-held moral convictions. As such, they might say and do things that are harmful and distressing to the vegan child, or allow classmate bullying to occur. I've written on here before about how I was the subject of cruel remarks and unnecessary jokes by both classmates and teachers for being a vegetarian kid/teenager. I am sure most of these people just saw it as some fun ribbing regarding something they didn't understand, but it hurt. The author of this book also includes heartbreaking stories of two different students who were bullied mercilessly because of their veganism, which should hopefully impress upon educators to not engage in this sort of thoughtlessness themselves, or allow it to happen among the students in their school.
I had some mixed feelings about the writing style at times. The first section explains to teachers why a child and/or their family might choose to be vegan. The text can get a little hyperbolic at times--there is a desire by many vegans to apply veganism to a broad range of historical humanitarian figures, even when evidence for it is scant; also, personal veganism is not protection from foodborne bacteria when e.coli and such have been found in lettuce and other crops that have been exposed to runoff from cattle feedlots. I worry that an omnivorous teacher will simply dismiss it as a vegan parent "preaching" at them--even if this is not the case--and not continue to the sections specifically applicable to the classroom.
The author has some vibrant ideas for inclusive classroom projects studying nature and ecosystems especially. No matter what subject is being studied, a variety of ideas are offered up to tie-in. Nearly all of these projects are mainstream enough that every child can participate equally and feel included. Contrast this with my elementary school, which hosted a big-game hunter, a rodeo clown, and a fisherman as speakers to the students. Or the multiple classroom "pizza parties" I didn't participate in because they only ordered pepperoni pizza. Yeah, don't do that. Or if you do, at least give the child and their family ample warning so veg snacks can be provided or the child can do an alternate project instead of the event that involves or celebrates harming animals.
Of course, things have changed some in regards to inclusiveness and bullying, and they no doubt will continue to do so. It's important that with all of the focus on accommodating students with a variety of needs, we don't forget that vegan and vegetarian students are part of the picture, too. A little sensitivity on the part of the educator can go a long way in helping every student feel comfortable, wanted, and welcome at school.
This book was written in the UK, so most of the facts and figures apply to that region specifically, but the overall theme of what veganism is and what an inclusive and welcoming classroom might look like is going to be fairly universal.
Many people, including teachers, still don't understand that veganism isn't just a fad diet, but rather an extension of deeply-held moral convictions. As such, they might say and do things that are harmful and distressing to the vegan child, or allow classmate bullying to occur. I've written on here before about how I was the subject of cruel remarks and unnecessary jokes by both classmates and teachers for being a vegetarian kid/teenager. I am sure most of these people just saw it as some fun ribbing regarding something they didn't understand, but it hurt. The author of this book also includes heartbreaking stories of two different students who were bullied mercilessly because of their veganism, which should hopefully impress upon educators to not engage in this sort of thoughtlessness themselves, or allow it to happen among the students in their school.
I had some mixed feelings about the writing style at times. The first section explains to teachers why a child and/or their family might choose to be vegan. The text can get a little hyperbolic at times--there is a desire by many vegans to apply veganism to a broad range of historical humanitarian figures, even when evidence for it is scant; also, personal veganism is not protection from foodborne bacteria when e.coli and such have been found in lettuce and other crops that have been exposed to runoff from cattle feedlots. I worry that an omnivorous teacher will simply dismiss it as a vegan parent "preaching" at them--even if this is not the case--and not continue to the sections specifically applicable to the classroom.
The author has some vibrant ideas for inclusive classroom projects studying nature and ecosystems especially. No matter what subject is being studied, a variety of ideas are offered up to tie-in. Nearly all of these projects are mainstream enough that every child can participate equally and feel included. Contrast this with my elementary school, which hosted a big-game hunter, a rodeo clown, and a fisherman as speakers to the students. Or the multiple classroom "pizza parties" I didn't participate in because they only ordered pepperoni pizza. Yeah, don't do that. Or if you do, at least give the child and their family ample warning so veg snacks can be provided or the child can do an alternate project instead of the event that involves or celebrates harming animals.
Of course, things have changed some in regards to inclusiveness and bullying, and they no doubt will continue to do so. It's important that with all of the focus on accommodating students with a variety of needs, we don't forget that vegan and vegetarian students are part of the picture, too. A little sensitivity on the part of the educator can go a long way in helping every student feel comfortable, wanted, and welcome at school.
December 1, 2020
A comprehensive guide that should be required reading for all educators. There should be a copy in every classroom and colleges should include this in their education curriculums.
If you are a parent or a guardian to a vegan child, please present your child's teachers with this book so that your child can be educated in an inclusive classroom environment.
If you are a parent or a guardian to a vegan child, please present your child's teachers with this book so that your child can be educated in an inclusive classroom environment.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews