Are Class Pets a Good Idea?

I heard you talking to Mrs. Wu about getting a class pet. But I’m not sure that it’s a good idea!

I know you love animals, but not everyone does. Some kids find certain animals scary, creepy, or gross. Animals can also make it hard to pay attention in class. Can you imagine trying to focus on long division while a hamster spins on a wheel or crawls around in your lap? I know I would find that distracting!

Besides, Jesse and Devon are allergic to animals with fur. If we got a pet mouse or rabbit, they would be sneezing all the time.

Having a class pet wouldn’t just be a problem for us humans. It could also cause problems for the pet itself. Some organizations that help animals say a classroom is not a good home for animals. Classrooms can be too bright, too loud, or too small. This can make it hard for the pets to eat, sleep, or be comfortable. And what would we do with our guinea pig or turtle during weekends or longer breaks? Pets need our love and attention every day, not just when school’s in session.

How about we plan a field trip to a zoo or an aquarium instead? That way, we can still learn about animals in school! 

Your friend,

Tommy

I heard you talking to Mrs. Wu about getting a class pet. But I’m not sure that’s a good idea!

I know you love animals. But not everyone does. Some kids find certain animals scary, creepy, or gross. Animals can also make it hard to pay attention in class. Can you imagine trying to focus on math while a hamster spins on a wheel? I know I would have trouble thinking!

Besides, Jesse and Devon are allergic to animals with fur. If we got a pet mouse or rabbit, they would be sneezing all the time.

Having a class pet wouldn’t be a problem only for us humans. It could also cause problems for the pet. Some groups that help animals say a classroom is not a good home for animals. Classrooms can be too bright, too loud, or too small. This can make it hard for the pets to eat, sleep, or be comfortable. And what would we do with our guinea pig or turtle during weekends or long breaks? Pets need our love and attention every day, not just when we’re in school.

How about we plan a field trip instead? We can go to a zoo or an aquarium. That way, we can still learn about animals in school! 

Your friend,

Tommy

It’s true: Some pets aren’t right for our class. But there are so many animals to choose from! We could avoid critters that don’t do well in a classroom environment. And if a furry friend isn’t safe for Jesse and Devon, we can get a turtle or a frog instead. 

A class pet could also help our friends who don’t like animals to feel more comfortable around them. After all, animals are everywhere—in our backyards, in the park, in people’s homes. It’s good to learn not to be scared of them.

Plus, caring for a pet can teach us how to be responsible. We’d need to feed it, clean its home, keep it happy—and yes, figure out who would take care of the pet during breaks. 

I read a study that said that having class pets has many benefits. For example, it can help students make new friends and be less stressed out at school. Research also shows that class pets can help students learn how animals behave, what they eat, and how they sleep. I know I would pay more attention in science class if I had a bearded dragon next to my desk.

So what do you say? Will you help us get a fish, a turtle, or maybe even
. . . a snake?

Your friend, 

Arianna

It’s true: Some pets aren’t right for our class. But there are so many animals to choose from! We could avoid animals that don’t do well in classrooms. And if a furry pet isn’t safe for Jesse and Devon, we can get a turtle or a frog instead. 

A class pet could also help our friends who don’t like animals to feel more comfortable around them. After all, animals are everywhere. They’re in our backyards, in the park, and in people’s homes. It’s good to learn not to be scared of them.

Plus, caring for a pet can teach us how to be responsible. We’d need to feed it, clean its home, and keep it happy. And yes, we would have to figure out who would take care of the pet during breaks. 

I read a study that said that having class pets has many upsides. For example, it can help students make new friends. It can also help them be less stressed out at school. Research also shows that class pets can help students learn how animals act, what they eat, and how they sleep. I know I would pay more attention in science class if I had a bearded dragon next to my desk.

So what do you say? Will you help us get a fish, a turtle, or maybe even
. . . a snake?

Your friend, 

Arianna