Classroom Pets: Good, Bad or Indifferent?

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Classroom Pets:  Used to be and CAN/CANNOT be GOOD.  Is sometimes BAD And is OFTEN DANGEROUS! (opinion article with facts and opportunities to learn from a 17 year long experienced teacher of pets in the classroom and how I learned to keep my job by NOT having them in the room!)

Sometimes teachers, especially of children in lower grades, find keeping classroom pets beneficial. The kids might not like coming to school to learn, but some enjoy their daily visit with the classroom pet. There are many considerations when selecting an appropriate pet for the classroom.

The REAL OWNER of the CLASSROOM "pet"
http://therealowner.com/adoption-rescue/getting-a-classroom-pet/



10 WORST animals to have in the classroom:

 

MIAMI, Aug. 18, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Classroom pets are an excellent way to teach young children about responsibility; however, deciding which animal is best suited to a noisy environment and constant human attention can be a daunting task. To make sure elementary school teachers know what to avoid, petMD.com has put together a list of the top 10 worst classroom pets.

# 10 - Snakes
Snakes don't shed, aren't noisy and, if you keep their habitat clean, don't emit a strong odor either. So, why don't snakes make good classroom pets? Their unpredictable temperament (especially when molting) can result in aggressive behavior towards inquisitive children. Most importantly, being reptiles, snakes have been known to transmit salmonella.
# 9 - Ferrets
These carnivorous members of the weasel family fall under the category of exotic (read: more expensive to care for) pets. Plus, they have a strong odor even after their musk glands have been removed. Generally, ferrets have excitable and aggressive dispositions. Even well-trained, they have a tendency to nip when they feel threatened. Overall, ferrets and small children are not a good combination.
# 8 - Birds
If children in your classroom suffer from allergies, you might think a bird would be a good fit -- but birds shed dander. They're also messy and noisy. Birds bite if handled too much, especially if they're not being handled gently. Also, all that classroom noise and activity isn't very peaceful; a nerve-wracked bird will pluck out its feathers. Finally, they can transmit bird diseases like parrot fever and salmonella.
# 7 - Rabbits
Thinking pet rabbits are safe for young children is one of the biggest mistakes teachers make when picking a classroom pet. Rabbits don't like to be handled and retaliate by biting or scratching with their strong hind legs. The House Rabbit Society has a downloadable PDF listing the criteria for keeping a rabbit as a classroom pet. Unfortunately, many don't meet the standard, especially in providing a peaceful environment.
# 6 - Frogs
Raising a frog to adulthood from the tadpole stage, or keeping an adult frog in a class full of young children is appealing but misguided. Why don't frogs make good classroom pets? Younger children will want to handle and pet the amphibian and that poses a considerable risk for transmission of salmonella. The Center for Disease Control provides vital information in this article: Reptiles, Amphibians and Salmonella.
# 5 - Hamsters
They're low maintenance and take up virtually no room, which makes this "starter pet" a top choice for teachers in the pet store. But hamsters are nocturnal rodents. This means disappointed children won't get to observe or interact with it at all. Also, the end result of a rattling the cage to wake up and play with "Harry the Hamster" is usually a bite.
#4 - Hedgehogs
Hedgehogs are nocturnal, which means they won't be in a good mood if they're woken up and will likely bite as a result. Falling under the "exotic" category, hedgehogs have very specific environmental needs, and their quills can be very irritating to young children.
# 3 - Chinchillas
Like hedgehogs and ferrets, chinchillas are nocturnal, excitable, and don't like to be handled. This pet needs to stay in constantly cool temperatures (under 85 degrees Fahrenheit) and to be set free daily so they can roam. Even considering taking a pet chinchilla to class for one day is considered a bad idea.
# 2 - Turtles
Their patience, hard shell and ease of care make turtles a seemingly perfect fit for the classroom. But like frogs and snakes, turtles commonly carry the disease salmonella, which is highly infectious and transmittable to humans. In addition, turtles are not as docile as people think.
# 1 - Iguanas
Iguanas are, in many ways, the least ideal pet to keep in a classroom. Like most reptiles, iguanas don't like to be handled. And because iguanas can grow to over six feet in length, a tail "lashing" can be quite dangerous to young children. Iguanas also have unique dietary needs and cannot subsist on greens alone.


So what animals do make for good classroom pets? According to the Humane Society, rodents such as rats, mice, gerbils and guinea pigs present less of a disease risk and are very sociable creatures. Goldfish are also an excellent choice for students who may suffer from allergies. They are relatively low-maintenance to care for and feed, and most importantly, they aren't disruptive to a healthy learning environment.

About petMD
petMD is a leading online resource focused solely on the health and well-being of pets. The site maintains the world's largest pet health library, written and approved by a network of trusted veterinarians. petMD was founded to inspire pet owners to provide an ever-increasing quality of life for their pets and to connect pet owners with pet experts and other animal lovers. petMD is a subsidiary of the Pet360 family of brands, which also includes www.PetFoodDirect.com -- the most complete pet food and supply retailer online, and www.NationalPetPharmacy.com -- a fully certified, full-service pet pharmacy delivering pet meds, vitamins and comprehensive pet health and wellness products.
Contact:
Kelly Lange
610-234-4114
klange@pet360.com
SOURCE petMD.com


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Article is being posted here for EDUCATIONAL (by an educator) for learning.  No copies of this article may be reproduced in any form without written permission. 

SOMETHINGS THAT ARE SUGGESTED TO DO:

http://www.usask.ca/education/coursework/mcvittiej/resources/livingthings/animals.htm

http://www.ehow.com/how_2092134_teach-children-animals.html

http://k6educators.about.com/od/classroommanagement/a/Classroom_Jobs.htm

http://www.kinderart.com/teachers/pets.shtml

DIFFERING OPINIONS, POSITIONS AND FACT ABOUT ANIMALS AS "PETS" IN THE CLASSROOM:

http://www.animalearn.org/elementaryLaws.php

(some of this is about dissection!) (some of the material may upset you and others of you ... like me... will join in the movement and obey the laws!)


http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/Portals/9/pdf/pub009.pdf
 Deals with OHIO...  PDF file...

http://www.nsta.org/about/positions/animals.aspx
  Science Education positional statement about the use of animals in the classroom.  This is a PRO article... with the some of the best information I have found!

http://www.reacheverychild.com/feature/pets-classroom.html
   An incredible collection of links and ideas and opinions and facts about the use of animals in the classroom.  Another favorite article of mine with incredible information!

http://www.mspca.org/programs/humane-education/resources-for-educators/animals-in-education/school-policy-on-classroom.html
    MSPCA is an incredible organization with a great wealth of information on this topic.


http://www.mdk12.org/instruction/curriculum/science/safety/safety.html
   Safety....  are teachers RESPONSIBLE in the classroom?  Have they been trained to handle certain animals?  And much more...

http://www.mbm-law.net/newsletter-articles/when-dogs-go-to-school-%E2%80%93-service-animals-in-the-classroom/
  Service Animals in the Classroom  (you don't need to have other animals in the classroom...  they are a MAJOR distraction and unfair to the student(s) with the special needs.


Final Note:  Since we are NOT encouraging animals in the classroom but rather animals that come to schools with their animals that are trained for the in-class visiting only, we will not be adding any thing else in comments.   If you have questions about this subject, you should call your local SPCA and ask how you can help them and how they can help you.  Thank you!