Mary can bring her lamb to school, now

By Matea Tuhtar

It is early afternoon in Wendy Wagner’s classroom, and Mac is stretched out in the corner, napping through the buzz of Grade 2 students getting on with their day.  Mac is not a sleepy kid but rather a round little chinchilla that’s just as much part of the class as his human buddies.

Wagner has had many classroom pets through the years, including a hamster, rabbit and guinea pig, though Mac is a favorite. The friendly ball of fur is very social, greeting kids who visit him through the cage, and running around the room every morning to get his daily exercise.

“He’s fabulous,” says Wagner. “The kids love him and he just wants to be around people.”

There are many good reasons for bringing an animal into a classroom. Students can get the opportunity to experience empathy and respect for other living creatures, while gaining valuable responsibility skills. For the kids who aren’t allowed to have a pet at home, the classroom critter may be their only exposure to the animal world and provide an easy segue into many parts of the curriculum including science, math and social studies. As well, having a pet in the classroom has shown to lower tension and encourage creativity and interaction among the kids.

“A pet is especially helpful for students who are struggling socially and emotionally,” says Wagner. “An animal in the classroom gives them something to relate to, and I often give these kids extra responsibilities in their care.”

It’s important to do a lot of research before deciding to bring a pet into the classroom. Student allergies can be deal-breakers so it’s wise to clear these before making a decision about which pet to adopt.

Animals have different requirements, and not all are suited for classroom life. Some such as hamsters are nocturnal and will be cranky if woken up by little hands all day.  Others, such as guinea pigs, have special nutritional requirements, and need a spacious cage to live comfortably.  Sunlight and warmth can also be issues, especially since some school divisions turn down the heat in classrooms over night. Taking care of an animal requires work, and it is up to the teacher to determine whether a class is ready for such a responsibility.

“Over the years we’ve seen a lot of pets be brought into the humane society because people bought them, and then couldn’t care for them,” says Lynn Silver, manager of the education team at the Winnipeg Humane Society. “That’s something we’re trying to avoid.”

The most popular choices for classroom animals are small rodents, birds, fish and lizards. Insects can also be an interesting, low maintenance choice.

“If a teacher is interested, a good place to look for an animal is the Humane Society,” says Silver. “We have a variety of animals to choose from. A plus side is that if teachers adopt from us, the staff here can give them accurate information about the pet they are interested in.”

No matter which animal you chose, it’s important to remember that animal husbandry doesn’t end when the bell rings and that some pets will need to be taken home over the weekends. And don’t forget, when June comes around, the classroom pet often becomes a teacher’s pet.

With some careful research and planning, an animal can bring a lot of joy and fun to a classroom and teach students to become caring and responsible pet owners in the future. That’s a lesson worth learning.