Verbiage for teacher/parent release form to hold snakes

[mainbutter]

It's not the lawyers you should have problems with.

It's the entire legal system.

They didn't write the laws, they just tell people how it is.

[wilomn]

It's not the lawyers you should have problems with.

It's the entire legal system.

They didn't write the laws, they just tell people how it is.

You're joking, right?

They write the laws so you need one of them to defend yourself, interpret the law, find ways around the laws they've introduced and all the while you're paying by the hour.

What other profession is it that you pay this way and get screwed for?

[blackcrystal22]

I do believe there should be mention that ball pythons are a harmless nonvenomous species.

You'd be surprised how many people think there are pythons and boas that have venom.

[wilomn]

I do believe there should be mention that ball pythons are a harmless nonvenomous species.

You'd be surprised how many people think there are pythons and boas that have venom.

It's a good thought but my thinking is, the less you give them to worry about the better.

Keep it short, sweet and simple.

[puddintain]

This is exactly why I can't bring my snakes Zipper to our school pet exhibit. We do one every year, the Louisiana School of Agricultural Science. They bring in the little kids from Headstart to see the animals. I submitted for permission to big Zipper, got a big fat NO!

[blackcrystal22]

Is there any type of permit out there that could prevent such lawsuits from occurring?

What do the educational groups do to avoid such a case when they go to shows and such with their animals? I assume they don't make everyone sign a release.

[JimNAZ]

Thank you for the wording, thoughts and warnings!

Greatly appreciated

Jim

[MarkS]

Is there any type of permit out there that could prevent such lawsuits from occurring?

What do the educational groups do to avoid such a case when they go to shows and such with their animals? I assume they don't make everyone sign a release.

We don't do anything. We do have the owners of the animals sign a form stating that they know what the rules are (always keep control of your animal, don't let people pet it on the head etc...) But we have thousands of people coming to our 'hands on' shows that touch and pet our snakes and lizards and turtles (but not the amphibians since it's bad for the amphibians, not because it's bad for the people)

My Mom was a second grade teacher and had a corn snake as a classroom pet for many many years until she retired. The snake was one of the first ones that I hatched when I started captive breeding. She never had to have the kids sign any kind of release form and just about every kid in the school handled that snake at one time or another.

[gp_dragsandballs]

Just have a touch at your own risk type of release form.

I can't believe we have to worry about this stuff.

[wilomn]

The thing about schools is they need to be overly protective. They are taking care of our children. It's a damn shame that we have to have all this nonsense involved in sharing nature with them, but they are not in the business of animals, well sort of but not like us, they are in the business of teaching children.

Often the teachers and administrators would be all for live stuff in the class rooms but are not allowed to by board members, old folks with their outdated ideas or more concerned with re-election to the school board than with the actual kids.

If you do this professionally, you can get insurance. Even then though, some places just won't let you in.

I know a guy who has been doing this for over 30 years. He says to keep it short and simple. I'll go with his advice, he seems to know what he's talking about.

And let's not forget that not everyone who wants to bring a snake to class SHOULD be bringing snakes to class. Can you imagine some of the attention-whores who have been here going to your child's class?

That's why many schools are skittish about animals. They've already had the "Expert," the onewho has had their snake 3 days, come in and tell them all about how snakes need to eat live and have huge teeth and even a small one like this "Two foot Bald Python" can kill a grown man. Seen it in person.

Good luck and have fun, it is cool watching those little buggers see their first snake.