Educational Purposes

lordkovacs · 07-25-03, 09:41 AM

I was wondering if anyone else puts on educational shows with their snakes? I am an elementary school teacher, and every few months I bring in a snake for the afternoon and give the kids a little lesson about snakes as pets, snakes in teh wild, and some history. You should see their faces light up when I reach in my travel tank and pull out the snake (the kids are 6 and 7 years old). It's amazing. Also, not ONE child has EVER been scared of the snake. They all realize snakes eat rodents as well, so they don't get grossed out. The funny thing here is that almost every adult I show the snake to is either scared or grossed out. Isn't that indicative of the way society is towards reptiles?
Any similar stories?
cheers,
MIKE

Smilts · 07-25-03, 11:46 AM

i think that is really neat. I've always believed that we are trained by other adults while were growing up that snakes are bad. So by the time most people get to be adults they dont have a chance, they hate snakes because they were taught to. Its a good thing some of us break away from that tradition. And its really cool that you are sharing that love with children.

RaVeNo888o · 07-25-03, 01:20 PM

i used to LOVE when people would bring in snakes and stuff. I think it only happened once that i can remember. We had this student teacher in grade 5 and she brought in her sand boa. I loved snakes b4 that but it just fueled the flame. It was a nice orange one i think. She didnt feed it though

lordkovacs · 07-25-03, 01:40 PM

The first time I brought a corn to school, I let the 8 and 9 year olds watch it eat... (one at a time they could come up and take a peak. They were to fascinated by it. Absolutely no one refused the invitation to watch the feeding. I think if we get out into the public a little more, i think people will become better educated, and appreaciate what we do, and also appreciate the animals.
Cheers,
MIke

Lisa · 07-25-03, 05:53 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Coy
i think that is really neat. I've always believed that we are trained by other adults while were growing up that snakes are bad. So by the time most people get to be adults they dont have a chance, they hate snakes because they were taught to. Its a good thing some of us break away from that tradition. And its really cool that you are sharing that love with children.

My cousins are a perfect example of this, when they were young (like 3 & 4 years old) she used to play with the snakes in the garden, her mom would be screaming at her to put the snake down etc. Now my cousin is absolutly terrified of snakes, even pictures on TV freak her out.

Myself on the other hand was never encouraged or discouraged on playing with snakes, I was just told that even though they weren't venomous nor dangerous they might bite out of fear, so rather then getting bitten (a 2-3 foot snake is big when you're 5 years old) I tended to leave them alone, just like I didn't like when frogs peed on me so I left them alone too. Bugs on the other hand freak the heebee jeebees out of me.

lordkovacs · 07-25-03, 05:57 PM

very true... at least if you are taught to respect snakes in the wile (and those pets), you can appreciate them as animals. I try to incorporate that in my lessons. I explain that approaching a snake isn't wise for a few reasons, etc etc... basically i try to give the children an understanding and appreciation for the animal. I try to stay away from trying to sell them on snakes as pets issue because I would have a lot of upset parents. Mostly I just stick to snakes in the wild. I do field many inquisitive questions...mostly about how it eats. anyway, thanks for the input...keep em comin!
cheers,
MIKE

RaVeNo888o · 07-25-03, 05:58 PM

you didnt like it when the frogs peed on you? what's wrong with you?? lol..
i never came accross snakes near our house or anything, cant really remember why it was i started to love them at a young age, but at the cottage we used to go around catching garter snakes, feed them a few frogs then let them go. Parents never stopped me

lordkovacs · 07-25-03, 05:58 PM

you must have enlightened parents! haha...

Lisa · 07-25-03, 06:00 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by RaVeNo888o
you didnt like it when the frogs peed on you? what's wrong with you?? lol..
i never came accross snakes near our house or anything, cant really remember why it was i started to love them at a young age, but at the cottage we used to go around catching garter snakes, feed them a few frogs then let them go. Parents never stopped me

I'm still not fond of frogs peeing on me. :P

CDN-Cresties · 07-25-03, 06:35 PM

Yea I have done it before, the kids just love it. I brought my ball python in and gave them a brief intro. They ask all sorts of questions. This up coming year im going to bring in my crested geckos.

My Ball Python named Elvis

-Steve-

P.S. sorry its not a colubrid, but ill get one eventually

Wrath · 07-25-03, 06:39 PM

Scary. Have you ever had a kid hurt one of your snakes? I always imagine the one jerk kid who just wants to get a rise out of everyone and squeezing it!

That would suck.

CDN-Cresties · 07-25-03, 06:45 PM

Thats a concern, i also have the concern the the snake might try to strike at a child but im confident that my ball wont, he has never made a attempt at me, he is soo docile. I only let a select few of students touch my ball python, and only at mid-body and when is head isnt facing them (just incase).

-Steve-

SerpentLust · 07-25-03, 08:00 PM

Hehe does taking the reptiles out where I work (pet store) and talking to customers for HOURS teaching proper care and temperament count as educational shows?

In school, any Biology or Science class (and even one time in English) I always grabbed at an opportunity to bring my snake to school and do presentations for the class on whatever topic I managed to weasel into the snake world! Hahaha

Jenn

BoidKeeper · 07-25-03, 08:22 PM

Hey Mike,

I'm an elementary teacher too! I teach in NB. This past year I did three shows for my school with aprox ten snakes at each. It's so great to expose the students when they are young to the world of reptiles. The younger they are when myths are dispelled the better. I'm glad to hear I'm not the only herp teacher out there!
Cheers,
Trevor

lordkovacs · 07-25-03, 09:57 PM

I guess Trevor we are lucky to have such an unbiased and captivated audience in children. they are willing to listen and not have any preconceived notions about snakes. Most, in fact, want snakes as pets after the presentation, so in the last few I have taken the focus away from snakes as pets, and put it more on snakes as part of "Kingdom Animalia". I encourage everyone to get out there and educate. What would be great is if everyone called their old elementary school and volunteered an afternoon to give a class a lesson on reptiles. I think the school would jump at the chance...I know mine would if I wasn't already there. try it; you won't regret it!
Cheers all,
MIKE