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Animals in elementary school education in California
R L Zasloff1, L A Hart, H DeArmond
1Center for Animals in Society, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis 95616, USA. rlzasloff@ucdavis.edu
Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science : JAAWS
|December 21, 2005
Summary
Elementary school teachers in California frequently use live animals and specimens for instruction, finding them effective for teaching science and humane values. However, challenges like animal welfare and safety concerns exist, suggesting a need for school oversight.
Area of Science:
- Education
- Animal Studies
- Classroom Practices
Background:
- Nonhuman animals are frequently utilized in elementary education.
- Understanding current classroom practices is essential for developing effective educational strategies.
- The use of animals in education raises considerations for animal welfare and student safety.
Purpose of the Study:
- To gather preliminary data on the use of nonhuman animals in northern California elementary school classrooms.
- To identify learning objectives associated with animal-related instructional activities.
- To determine resources that could enhance or expand animal-related teaching practices.
Main Methods:
- A mail survey was distributed to elementary school teachers in Stanislaus County, California.
- A follow-up workshop was conducted with survey respondents.
- Data collected included information on animal use, learning objectives, and needed resources.
Main Results:
- Most teachers incorporated live animals or nonliving specimens into their classrooms.
- Animals were reported as popular and effective instructional tools across primary grades.
- Teachers valued live animals for science, cross-curricular learning, and teaching humane values.
Conclusions:
- Live animals offer significant educational benefits but present challenges, including care responsibilities, costs, and potential health/safety issues.
- Concerns regarding animal welfare in classrooms were noted.
- The lack of federal regulation for animals in precollege education highlights the importance of school or district oversight to mitigate potential problems.
