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#1
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Mistreatment of Classroom Animals?
I am chuffed at a recent experience.
I had multiple terrariums and aquariums set up throughout the classroom with critters as complex as a red-eared slider and as simple as silkworms. My philosophy behind this is quite simple: Exposure to everything and anything offers understanding and empathy. Imagine my annoyance at seeing the same child repeatedly attending to the displays pounding on the glass or poking pencils through the mesh into the living areas. Speaking to the child directly, working with his teacher, and finally asking for a teacher-parent conference with the principal in attendance (net-net: removal of priveleges to be anywhere near my animals) was the escalation path. Usually, talking to the child directly is enough but for a select few loss of privelege or prompt denial is necessary. How can you give each child a fuller experience without denying them an opportunity out of fear for the animals? The Ranger |
#2
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Mistreatment of Classroom Animals?
I see people doing that to the tropical fish displays at Wal-mart...
some adults even.... Martin The Ranger wrote: I am chuffed at a recent experience. I had multiple terrariums and aquariums set up throughout the classroom with critters as complex as a red-eared slider and as simple as silkworms. My philosophy behind this is quite simple: Exposure to everything and anything offers understanding and empathy. Imagine my annoyance at seeing the same child repeatedly attending to the displays pounding on the glass or poking pencils through the mesh into the living areas. Speaking to the child directly, working with his teacher, and finally asking for a teacher-parent conference with the principal in attendance (net-net: removal of priveleges to be anywhere near my animals) was the escalation path. Usually, talking to the child directly is enough but for a select few loss of privelege or prompt denial is necessary. How can you give each child a fuller experience without denying them an opportunity out of fear for the animals? The Ranger |
#3
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Mistreatment of Classroom Animals?
"The Ranger" wrote in message
. .. Usually, talking to the child directly is enough but for a select few loss of privelege or prompt denial is necessary. How can you give each child a fuller experience without denying them an opportunity out of fear for the animals? We rescue reptiles and are into the reptile community and I have seen this so many times! What I've seen work sometimes is to put an aquarium over the child's head, at least covering his ears, and show him just how loud it is. Marie |
#4
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Mistreatment of Classroom Animals?
"The Ranger" wrote in message . .. I am chuffed at a recent experience. I had multiple terrariums and aquariums set up throughout the classroom with critters as complex as a red-eared slider and as simple as silkworms. My philosophy behind this is quite simple: Exposure to everything and anything offers understanding and empathy. Imagine my annoyance at seeing the same child repeatedly attending to the displays pounding on the glass or poking pencils through the mesh into the living areas. Speaking to the child directly, working with his teacher, and finally asking for a teacher-parent conference with the principal in attendance (net-net: removal of priveleges to be anywhere near my animals) was the escalation path. "My animals" ? Perhaps if they were "the classroom animals" or "your (the kids) animals", that responsibility of ownership would make the child take their health and safety more seriously. Do they have names? How old is the child? Have you tried giving him/her special responsibility for their care, or having the kids take turns being "zookeepers" ? The child is obviously drawn to the animals, perhaps you could redirect that interest in a positive way, under supervision, of course. If the kids were taught the behavior habits and needs of each creature, give them a checklist and have them keep up with their care. Even a first-grader can keep a simple journal, have them write a sentence or two every day about the classroom critters. Usually, talking to the child directly is enough but for a select few loss of privelege or prompt denial is necessary. How can you give each child a fuller experience without denying them an opportunity out of fear for the animals? Small animals and young children always need close supervision, there is no way around that. If this is not feasible, consider reducing the number of animals or introducing them late in the school year. |
#5
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Mistreatment of Classroom Animals?
dejablues wrote in message
... "The Ranger" wrote in message . .. I am chuffed at a recent experience. I had multiple terrariums and aquariums set up throughout the classroom with critters as complex as a red-eared slider and as simple as silkworms. My philosophy behind this is quite simple: Exposure to everything and anything offers understanding and empathy. Imagine my annoyance at seeing the same child repeatedly attending to the displays pounding on the glass or poking pencils through the mesh into the living areas. Speaking to the child directly, working with his teacher, and finally asking for a teacher-parent conference with the principal in attendance (net-net: removal of priveleges to be anywhere near my animals) was the escalation path. "My animals" ? "Our" is the pronoun of choice when introducing my class to the opportunities I offer and "MY" when students from other classrooms make poor choices (such as the child above.) Perhaps if they were "the classroom animals" or "your (the kids) animals", that responsibility of ownership would make the child take their health and safety more seriously. Do they have names? The responsibilities of classroom pets are established from the very first day. Naming said animals is also done when I receive new life forms from science projects that are closing down (hence, silkworms, butterflies, crayfish, snails) or pets that are no longer welcomed by their previous owners (red-eared slider, leopard gecko, hermit crabs). How old is the child? Have you tried giving him/her special responsibility for their care, or having the kids take turns being "zookeepers" ? He is 7-yo going into second grade. He would randomly "stop by" after school or during recess and lunch. He was not my student. Normally, since I am in the classroom during these times, I don't mind having visitors that stop by and watch the animals. Stopping by and pounding on the tank, poking something at the animal, or yelling at it bother me immediately. Just because you are the larger animal doesn't mean you have the right to antagonize it. BTW: I'm very good at my classroom management and task assignements. The child is obviously drawn to the animals, perhaps you could redirect that interest in a positive way, under supervision, of course. If the kids were taught the behavior habits and needs of each creature, give them a checklist and have them keep up with their care. Even a first-grader can keep a simple journal, have them write a sentence or two every day about the classroom critters. Kindergarteners can keep journals and learn to observe. Kindergarteners can be taught animal care and behavior. Kindergarteners can be taught responsibility and also learn about cause-and-effect. Again, that wasn't the issue with this particular child; the child was from another class and I could not get through to them the importance of not hurting things that did not do more than provide the opportunity. Usually, talking to the child directly is enough but for a select few loss of privelege or prompt denial is necessary. How can you give each child a fuller experience without denying them an opportunity out of fear for the animals? Small animals and young children always need close supervision, there is no way around that. If this is not feasible, consider reducing the number of animals or introducing them late in the school year. Hmm. Indeed. The Ranger |
#6
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Mistreatment of Classroom Animals?
"The Ranger" wrote in message . .. I am chuffed at a recent experience. BTW, "chuffed" means quite pleased, delighted, or satisfied. Did everything turn out ok? |
#7
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Mistreatment of Classroom Animals?
dejablues wrote in message
... "The Ranger" wrote in message . .. I am chuffed at a recent experience. BTW, "chuffed" means quite pleased, delighted, or satisfied. Did everything turn out ok? Bummer on me and my reliance on spell-checkers: "I am chafed..." It did and didn't. The child was not allowed to stop by after the the principal-parent meeting. He simply wouldn't control his compulsions. If that's what it took to get the message across, then that's the solution. I'd have preferred otherwise as all the other students that often stopped by had no issues and, I think, benefited positively from the experiences. The Ranger |
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