Re: [vernalpool] Amphibian Residents for Classroom

I can come in on this discussion from seemingly both sides. I have kept
animals in a classroom (animal room) for most of my years of teaching
(retired now) and have seen great benefit in it. During that period, I
recognized that certain animals were "comfortable" in the classroom,
many difficult to keep, and others entirely unsuited for classroom
use. That statement covers all vertebrates but also is applicable to
herps. I made some mistakes. I do not like to see animals stressed,
removed from their habit, nor mistreated. Yet I do have turtles placed
in my care for >30 years as unreleasable that are still doing well, with
special care. These turtles would not be suitable for captivity nor
classroom use under normal circumstances.

I have posted a comment on the Windmiller thread along this topic. I'll
try not to overlap.

I don't advocate just any teacher placing a frog (adult or tadpole) in
an aquarium and keeping it for classroom observation. Unfortunately for
some, I would also apply this to packaged science curricula where
animals arrive from a supply house on a regular basis as part of a food
chain or food web lesson plan.

To keep this short, my issues are legality, classroom care, and ultimate
disposition of the animals. Legality (in MA) is covered in the other
post. Care cannot be addressed here but if you are thinking of legally
keeping an animal, search the internet for health requirements for this
species. I don't just mean amphibians!

The ultimate issue is disposal of the animals. Using a native species
as Jessica is suggesting is simple. Return it to point of capture. The
animals purchased from supply sources, pet stores, donated by parents,
captured on vacation are a major issue. For most schools, the "science
kit animals" do not come with a disposal plan. Often the teacher or a
student lets them go in a nearby wetland. This is not a good plan!
Jessica's request has a classroom plan and a disposal plan. I know her
program and this works for me.

Sometimes "disposal" is because of the clueless. I recently was
informed that a local elementary school principal needed space for a
copier and over a weekend had the custodians throw the school turtle
tank into the dumpster and release the three turtles in a local stream.
The species of turtle are not clear but one could be non-native.
Teachers and parents are upset but the turtles are still out in the
wild. (Parents retrieved the tank from the dumpster.)

But addressing the concerns of others. There is too much wildlife
going into classrooms with little understanding of appropriateness,
care, or disposal. I think this is a lot of what others are saying. We
need to be sensitive to the wildlife.

I am famous/infamous for saying at teacher workshops, when you raise
salamander eggs you bought from a vendor or purchased a turtle and the
end of the year has arrived and you must "release" them...

"Gather the students around. Sing a verse of "Born Free" and then smash
the animal with a brick. If you are not prepared to do this, don't
bring non-natives into the classroom or keep them for 40 years. (OK,
there are non-brick alternatives, but you get the point.)

The point was mostly to get them to consider not buy or keeping species
that were not appropriate for release.

Leo

On 3/18/2012 10:26 AM, KestrelE wrote:
>
> Hello, I am looking for gray tree frogs and / or eastern newts who
> could be residents of a middle school science classroom from soon
> until mid - June. We are doing some vernal pool and general ecosystem
> studies. I have experience caring for these. Not sure if I need an
> educational permit, as well. Does anyone know of anywhere I can find
> these, or do you have some you could allow my classroom to hold onto
> until June? If it's better, we can keep them permanently or release
> them to site of capture after the school year is over, all depending
> on situation and what is best for the animals. There are no non native
> animals in the classroom and the amphibians will not be handled by
> students, only observed.
> Thanks,
> Jessica
>
>

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