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07-01-2005, 01:14 AM

I've had some interesting experiences with having snakes in my classroom. (I teach High School Math). I've had snakes in my classrooms all the way up until February or so of this year, when my principal suddenly said "take em home". At that time I had too many other things going on to try to argue my case. I do plan on arguing my case to get a snake back into my classroom, but we'll see.

I think that having snakes in my classroom was one of the best things I had going.... I had kids whose parents would come to the open house nights, dragging along little brothers and sisters, and they would always say "I can't wait until I come to this school, I'm going to have YOU as my teacher!" .... To think of ANYTHING that makes a kid excited to have a specific MATH teacher... that's a good thing. The problem is that there are phobias, and some of those agains the animals have even spread what I believe are falsehoods in order to back up their case. I just need to get all my ducks in a row and prove a few things (anyone wanna help with the necessary research?):

1. I was told that one of the reasons I couldn't have snakes in the classroom is because "there are some native american religions that prohibit a person with that religion being in the same BUILDING as a snake"... I've never heard of this and would love to be able to prove it's "bunk" .... at least as regards to the common indian tribes found in and around Arizona.

2. Our school is all about "Brain Based Learning" and I could swear I've heard/read somewhere of some research into having animals in a classroom and how it is EXACTLY the right thing for brain-based learning. I know that my kids pay attention after having a five minute "snake break", they enjoy the award/reward of "snake time" if they are good/get some specific task done.

I've always respected those of my students who have a REAL and SERIOUS snake phobia (I've had ONE student with a REAL SERIOUS snake phobia, she turned white then green and looked ready to faint). But I hope that I will ahve the chance to have snakes in my classroom.

The saddest part of my losing the priveledge of snakes in my classroom, is that I was just given a beautiful pair of cornsnakes for my classroom in September of last year. My students all suggested names, voted to narrow down the list, and finally voted on the name of the actual snakes. They were involved. That counts for a lot. (The names they voted on were Parangaricutirimicudro & Abalamahalmatandra or Cleo & Cornelius)

Anyway, that's me rambling. For me it's a sad loss to not have the animals in the class.

07-01-2005, 01:14 AM	#4
Sasheena	I've had some interesting experiences with having snakes in my classroom. (I teach High School Math). I've had snakes in my classrooms all the way up until February or so of this year, when my principal suddenly said "take em home". At that time I had too many other things going on to try to argue my case. I do plan on arguing my case to get a snake back into my classroom, but we'll see. I think that having snakes in my classroom was one of the best things I had going.... I had kids whose parents would come to the open house nights, dragging along little brothers and sisters, and they would always say "I can't wait until I come to this school, I'm going to have YOU as my teacher!" .... To think of ANYTHING that makes a kid excited to have a specific MATH teacher... that's a good thing. The problem is that there are phobias, and some of those agains the animals have even spread what I believe are falsehoods in order to back up their case. I just need to get all my ducks in a row and prove a few things (anyone wanna help with the necessary research?): 1. I was told that one of the reasons I couldn't have snakes in the classroom is because "there are some native american religions that prohibit a person with that religion being in the same BUILDING as a snake"... I've never heard of this and would love to be able to prove it's "bunk" .... at least as regards to the common indian tribes found in and around Arizona. 2. Our school is all about "Brain Based Learning" and I could swear I've heard/read somewhere of some research into having animals in a classroom and how it is EXACTLY the right thing for brain-based learning. I know that my kids pay attention after having a five minute "snake break", they enjoy the award/reward of "snake time" if they are good/get some specific task done. I've always respected those of my students who have a REAL and SERIOUS snake phobia (I've had ONE student with a REAL SERIOUS snake phobia, she turned white then green and looked ready to faint). But I hope that I will ahve the chance to have snakes in my classroom. The saddest part of my losing the priveledge of snakes in my classroom, is that I was just given a beautiful pair of cornsnakes for my classroom in September of last year. My students all suggested names, voted to narrow down the list, and finally voted on the name of the actual snakes. They were involved. That counts for a lot. (The names they voted on were Parangaricutirimicudro & Abalamahalmatandra or Cleo & Cornelius) Anyway, that's me rambling. For me it's a sad loss to not have the animals in the class.