Secondary school Biology departments - live animals?

[sweetfluffybunnies]

If you work in a secondary school science department, does your Biology section keep live animals in school?

If so, are they used for any particular educational purpose or are they there just to look nice/interesting on open days? And what animals do you have?

I am interested because the Head of Science at my school insists that a 'proper' Biology lab should have live animals. I disagree because of animal welfare issues, the cost and time involved in looking after them and the issue of who cares for them in the holidays, and also I can't really see the need for them in modern Biology syllabuses.

Any input gratefully received.

[micah]

We never had them. No need for them.

[bumpybecky]

are we talking ants / worms / stick insects / fish or something more furry?

either way I think there's no need. Have you looked at cleapps guidelines? I can barely keep the department plant (note singular!) alive....

[fuckweasel]

Agree with checking CLEAPSS guidance.

[todayiamfat]

We had fish. And chickens (not in lab) until recently! Also the HOD often brings in snakes from home (and used to keep them in sch before i started a decade ago). They also had 'pets' at one time until a child accidently sat on a hamster !

Personally, i can't think of anything worse. I had to clean the fish tank once

[bumpybecky]

I forgot, we've got mice! wild ones though, not pets......!

[sweetfluffybunnies]

Thanks for your replies. I have looked at Cleapps, it starts off by saying that living animals should only be used for defined educational purposes if at all, and then starts going on about how a science department cannot claim to be providing 'a complete scientific education' if they never use living organisms. My argument would be that we do use living organisms - plants, maggots and woodlice, yeast. Not organisms that require lots of space, specialist equipment and feeding every day.

It sounds as though the practice of keeping animals in schools has mostly died out, good thing IMO. I think my HoD is just harping on about some idealised view of school Biology labs that he remembers from his school days. The trouble is, he's a bit of bully (and a Physics teacher), so standing up to him could be a bit hair-raising. But as it's me that will be looking after the animals if we get any, I think I'm going to have to stand my ground!

Thanks so much for your input, it really helps to know what other schools do.

[bumpybecky]

do you do any microbiology? that must count as living organisms too [:)]

As for HoD, is he offering to take them home and look after them for the school holidays?! I think I'd go for the technician time and money excuse before starting on the ethics argument (which is valid, but perhaps harder to articulate).

[sweetfluffybunnies]

bumpy his argument is that the technicians should want to come in to school during the holidays because we love our job so much! Not really living in the real world, especially as he lives on site, so could easily pop in to water plants etc, but never does. But expects me to drive half an hour each way to do it.

We get on really well

[flossieflower]

We have giant African land snails that are used for an A level habituation practical, a tropical fish tank (IB ecosystem practical), a bearded dragon (pet) and until recently a corn snake (pet). The school used to breed their own dissection rats but now we buy them frozen. Also have brine shrimp (practical and example of an ecosystem) and crickets (respiration and to feed the bearded dragon!). There also used to be pet axolotls. We're not allowed furry pets due to allergies and have had issues with students with phobias so had to move the snake every time a certain class had a lesson!!

[ouryve]

Long time ago in educational guidance time, but we had an animal club. Small animals (rats, hamsters, piggies) were kept and trusted kids got to help with their care and upkeep. It was most definitely a mixture of educational and therapeutic.

If an animal proved not to be easy for your average 11-13 yo to handle, it was usually adopted by a member of staff. I adopted an adorable but shy Russian Dwarf Hamster with a strong tendency to nibble.

[sweetfluffybunnies]

flossie that's really interesting, can I just ask who looks after all these animals in the school holidays, and how much technician time it takes? And what is an axolotl?

ouryve certainly when I was at junior school (a very long time ago), we had class pets, but I thought the practice had died out now. What happened to the animals at weekends and holidays?

[ElephantsNeverForgive]

DDs state school has fish and a snake. Fish look clean and well looked after (never met the snake).
I know one teacher refuses to teach in that room.

I looked after a snake, gecko, tarantula, tree frog, stick insects, crickets (used to feed tarantula and gecko) and jars if fruit flies.

I liked them, except the crickets who stank.

I was only temporary, so I don't know who looked after them over the summer.

[emberSept]

3 schools that I've worked at - none had any living animals. Tell the HOD she will have to come in over the holidays, it is definitely not the techs' job unless they are paid extra.

[EvilRingahBitch]

Best secondary school open day according to DS was the one where they had a tank of daphnia. Even Peta couldn't get too het up about welfare standards for them surely.

[EvilRingahBitch]

Also you can pour them away into a pond at the end of each summer term.

[sweetfluffybunnies]

evil I like the sound of Daphnia, that could be a possibility. I'll do some research.

Thanks to all for taking the time to respond.