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