Animal rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (Peta) has been found to be pushing "misleading and extremist claims" in educational materials aimed at children, a bombshell new report has claimed.
The dossier, titled "Saving Kids from Peta", claims the organisation is attempting to "indoctrinate children in their classrooms" with an "extreme animal rights agenda".
Peta Watch, the group behind the report, compiled it by analysing teaching materials the organisation produces specifically for children and claims to have uncovered "a pattern of bias, emotional manipulation, and scientifically flawed claims" in materials being used in schools.
The report also highlighted Peta's "well-documented history of extremist rhetoric" making it "entirely unsuitable for any role in education".
Members of Peta tussle with police in London's Trafalger Square, where they attempted to unveil their display 'Holocaust On Your Plate' which compares the way Jews were treated in Nazi Germany to how animals are treated in our current climate (2004)
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Peta protester holding placard showing Jews in concentration camp next to pigs in a cage (2004)
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Police remove Peta campaign comparing Holocaust with animal treatment (2004)
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It drew attention to a 2004 Peta campaign which compared farms to Holocaust concentration camps, which was "widely condemned by Jewish and human rights groups".
The report also accuses Peta of spreading "baseless fake science" including claims linking dairy consumption to autism, equating zoos to the transatlantic slave trade, and describing pet ownership as an "absolutely abysmal situation brought about by human manipulation".
In addition to the report, Peta Watch has written to Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson, calling for "an immediate ban on Peta's propaganda materials in classrooms".
The group argues that schools should be "places of learning, not recruitment grounds for animal rights protestors".
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Former MSP Brian Monteith, a campaign adviser for Peta Watch, claimed Peta's materials are "deliberately designed to manipulate emotions and push an extreme ideology".
"What parent would want their child exposed to this kind of propaganda in the classroom?" Monteith asked.
The report highlights several examples of what it calls biased Peta materials.
One such example in a GCSE English Lesson on Animal Testing, claims the material gives "a wholly one sided view of the debate without any attempt to give equal balance to the role of animal research in medical breakthroughs, how steps have been taken to limit animal testing, or the fact that monkeys make up less than 0.1 per cent of animals used in testing".
One example titled 'Zoos: Prison or Paradise?' asks children to discuss whether they think zoos should be closed down and whether animals in zoos compare to 'people in prison'
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In the lesson, students would also be shown "distressing" images of monkeys.
Another example cited is a lesson titled "Zoos: Prison or Paradise?" claims zoos should be closed down and compares animals in zoos to "people in prison".
According to Peta Watch, the material fails to mention conservation work by zoos or how they can inspire careers in animal welfare.
In materials on farming, Peta is described as using "extreme and emotionally charged" language, presenting farming as "inherently wrong".
In materials on farming, Peta is described as using 'extreme and emotionally charged' language
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Brian Monteith told GB News: "Peta is an extremist animal rights group pushing one-sided propaganda into schools, aiming to sign up children to their campaigns and convert young minds to its agenda."
"Every parent wants their child to hear all sides of an argument so they can form their own views," he added.
Monteith said only organisations that encourage children to understand both sides of complex issues should be allowed in classrooms.
He urged the Education Secretary to "immediately issue a ban on extremist groups from schools" and provide a list of organisations qualified to present "balanced, evidence-based perspectives" on contentious issues.
A spokesman for Peta said: "I thought it might be helpful to share a few excerpts from the humane education materials in question. As you’ll see, these resources are about kindness to animals and the age-old, simple idea that teaching a child not to step on a caterpillar is just as important for the child as it is for the caterpillar.
"If the child can relate to a little being, it should make it easier for them to be more considerate to classmates and so on, into adulthood.
"The TV show Adolescence shone a light on something that should give us pause — young people today, especially boys, are growing up in a world where empathy is in dwindling supply. And that’s not something we can afford to ignore. Empathy doesn’t just happen — it’s taught.
"Our humane education resources give parents and teachers a way to help young people open their eyes to the feelings of others. Children raised to respect others - whether they have two legs or four - are far more likely to grow into adults who create kinder, more compassionate communities for us all."
