Teacher’s dogs in classroom?

Let's not pretend she's doing it for the wellbeing of the kids, she just can't be bothered to pay for a dog walker.

I'd be saying something. It's not appropriate.

The head of my daughters school has a dog, it's a trained therapy dog. Only in classrooms for short periods for specific reasons, otherwise its in her office.

I think that's very different to a teachers dog being in classroom all the time.

Both my child's primary and secondary schools have had a 'school dog' belonging to a teacher.

I hate being confronted with dogs in restaurants and cafes and food shops. But I actually think they’re quite nice to encounter in a school. (Obviously assuming non-aggressive, well trained and relatively clean dogs.) Aren’t they regularly being introduced into community environments to provide stress relief and fun? Hospitals, care homes, school boarding houses, etc?

I definitely don’t think a four year old should be discouraged from learning how to interact with a gentle, friendly dog in a supervised setting purely because their parent is uncomfortable around dogs.

One of our teachers used to bring in her snake. A ball python. She used to let us hold her at lunchtime. She was very docile and tame.

If your son has no experience with dogs, this will be good for him. Better than passing on your fear to him.

When I was college doing ALevels 20+ years ago the Head of Psychology had a dog she’d bring into college & we’d often have lessons with her in the classroom, but she’d try to keep her in the office as she (Kizzy) was a major distraction to us teenage girls.
At our DCs primary school the preschool teacher sometimes brings her dog in, but not every day.
There is also the therapy dog at the local secondary school, but they tend to stay in The Hub, not a classroom.
So I’d say dogs in school aren’t super unusual but having two in reception every day would be & opens up whole issues are allergies & fears/phobias.

It’s not about those who would unquestionably ‘love it’, it’s about those who don’t want it and don’t feel it’s appropriate or professional. What options do they have?

This is becoming so insidious in schools. Teachers bringing in their pets and saying they help with well-being and regulation. No recognition of allergies, fears or even plain old autonomy of choice not to be around animals.

The problem is half the parents will have dogs and see no problem but if you, or your child doesn’t want it for any reason the power dynamic is not in your favour.

As if dogs weren’t everywhere already…🙄

One of my primary teachers in the 80s used to bring her two dogs in everyday, absolutely a highlight of my early education years! But yes, surprised to hear it happening now - unless it’s in some sort of PAT scenario?

Who has decided that 2 dogs are appropriate in a classroom?

I know of two schools where there is a dog that belongs to a staff member and comes in every day. i'd love it.

I have a four year old boy who doesn’t have experience being around them Sounds like an excellent opportunity to remedy that lack of experience.

As much as it’s a lovely thought tbh for someone who loves dogs, this teacher is taking a hell of a risk there

Yeah - not normal.

Are you in the Uk? This seems incredibly unlikely. Maybe it’s some weird private school though?