SLAS Times Q2 2019-2020 SLAS Times: Fall 2019 | Page 44
Let’s Bring Pets to Class
by Angela Chen
I
was only in second grade when
my classmate, Vincent, brought
silkworms to class. The silkworms
lived in a box, and my classmates
and I observed them every day un-
til they became moths. This pro-
cess helped the class bond, and
it motivated us to come to school.
Specialists say that class pets can
enrich the classroom experience.
According to the hemopet.org
page, interacting with pets “has
been shown to decrease levels of
cortisol (a stress related hormone)
and lower blood pressure.” Class
pets can be used to decrease
the intense stress of tests and
exams. Some students may be-
come more empathetic from tak-
ing care of pets, and this would
cause them to take care of fellow
students more. Also, class pets
could provide a new, interactive
learning environment that would
benefit almost every subject. For
example, for English, the teacher
can ask her students words that
describe their pet. Or, in History,
a teacher might ask about when
their pet first appeared in history.
pet may trigger allergies in stu-
dents and staff. However, health
issues happen naturally, and it’s a
good habit to start learning about
it first. If the allergenic student
couldn’t adapt to the pet, then
teachers can maybe try another
animal.
If classes show enthusiasm in car-
ing for pets, everyone will benefit.
Students can care for the class
pet on a regular schedule, and
Even though the introduction of take turns bringing it home during
class pets could lead to so many weekends. And having a class pet
new possibilities, they may also would certainly raise the mood of
cause catastrophes. For example, the whole class.
the pet may get sick or die, which
would be devastating. Also, the