It's love of reading week!!!!!!!!!!!!

[BPelizabeth]

Lets get all the herp keepers out there to schedule a time to go into a shcool and read a book. Preferably about a reptile or amphibian.

Im reading A Frog In The Bog...and taking a snake to help me read it to 5 second grade classes!!!!!

[angllady2]

Cool idea!

Unfortunately, my history with snakes has precluded my invitation to participate in any school functions.

Some people are extremely snake phobic, and even though I promised never to bring a snake without invitation, the consensus is I'd smuggle one in just to terrorize the teachers.

But to any who can do this, do your part to make some future animal lovers this week.

Gale

[BPelizabeth]

that is just terrible!!! At my son's school I cannot even walk in without a reptile of some type or I am in big big trouble....

In fact in my sons class we often bribe some of the kids with ..."If you make honor roll I will bring in Princess Bob (the beardie) and you can take care of her for the day". (These are kids that have worked with me with my reptiles so they have some experience). Just in case anyone freaked out by that comment. lol

What happened if I may ask??


So far I am bummed no one else responded....I thought what a great time to make a start with the kids!!!

[angllady2]

Nothing happened really.

My daughter, bless her little chatterbox heart, told some of her friends about our ball pythons and how we hoped to breed them one day.

Word got around of course, and it so happens the principal of her school is very snake phobic. So he in turn warned all the other principals in the school my kids either attend now or did when they were younger that I was raising "deadly pythons" in my home. I found out about it when they had a literacy night and asked for parents to volunteer to come and read stories to the kids. I offered my services, as I have been told I am an excellent storyteller, and was abruptly refused. When I called to ask why, I was told my obsession with dangerous animals was a bad influence to the children, and they weren't taking any chances I'd bring one of my deadly pets to show the kids, because what if a child got eaten ? The school would be liable.

In vain I tried to explain that my "deadly pythons" were too small and too gentle to hurt anyone, but of course, everyone knows pythons eat children, just look at the ones causing all the trouble in Florida.

So I took it upon myself never to darken their door with my presence. And I was otld to have my daughter refrain form telling the other children "horror stories" involving my dangerous snakes.

Gale

[BPelizabeth]

Wow that has got to be one of the most absurd things I have ever heard!!!!! oye...

[Phiban]

I used to bring my ball python in to my Mom's school and talk about snakes & reptiles, touched upon habitat destruction, and a few other things. Then one day, an administrator from another school brought their pet dog in and it bit one of the students. After that incident the county school board passed a rule saying no animals allowed at any Kanawha county school unless approved. And they're all ophidiophobic too

What I might try and do sometime in the near future is talk to a few people in HR at my work and see if I can't do a small show&tell for anyone with kids that are interested.

[BPelizabeth]

I know, I know...... you guys are sick of me talking about this....but its my two passions. Reptiles/animals and little kids and trying to educate them on reptiles and responsible pet ownership!!!!!

So today I am reading a book to 4th grade about a wild golpher snake that was captured by a kid that quickly looses interest because of video games. Lots of lessons to be learned in this book!!!! Ball Pythons Elizabeth, Henry and Alexandra are helping me to read to the classes.

Lets all try to get out there and read to a kid this week....even if you cannot take any reptiles with you!!!!