I raised my hand in ninth grade math class, asking: “When are we going to use algebra again after we graduate?” A valid question, I thought.

“You may not, but it teaches you to use your mind,” replied the teacher.

“Why not learn something that teaches us to use our minds, and use it again – like kindness?”

My reasonable question prompted yet another trip to the principal’s office; a detention and a talking to were in my immediate future.

Kindness is the most lifesaving, valuable, ethical, vital, logical lesson we can learn, and it’s still not an official academic subject.

In 1980, I created my first interactive kindness education program for kindergarteners, with the help of a seven-foot rabbit (no, his name was not Harvey, a comment for the old film buffs) who distributed rabbitapproved coupons for products that had not been tested on animals, for the children to take home. I was very hoppy after my engaging, positive kindness presentation.

Twenty-six years later, I achieve fostering empathy and empowering kindness for all species, including those two-legged ones, with innovative presentations, interactive dramatizations, my five original books, films and even a plant-powered superhero crew called Veganza Animal Heroes, and a rap song. No, I am not rapping.

Who will be the first school district to add Kindness or Empathy as a subject in the United States? I am here to help make that happen.

I have the skills, the tools, the materials, and the determination. Go to BEanAnimalHero.org to support our Join the Kindness to All Mission.