In Reply to: Re: Gliders @ School posted by Nikki on October 07, 1999 at 09:09:51:

I also have to agree with the responses you have gotten. While it may seem like a very educational idea, the welfare of the animals should ALWAYS come first. There are a lot of other ways to introduce children to pets besides having classroom pets. Sugar Gliders are considered Exotic animals and should be treated as such. You wouldn't think of keeping a monkey as a classroom pet (hopefully) therefore you shouldn't consider gliders. They are NOCTURNAL animals and would make a horrible daytime educational device. To observe their natural habits, which is the only educational value you would place on these little guys, you have to view them performing their natural habits, which in gliders occurs at about 2 AM!! How would the children ever actually observe them that way if they are at home in bed at the time the animals are awake comfortably? In my opinion this is a VERY BAD IDEA, it is unfair to the gliders to keep them in conditions where their normal sleep patterns are constantly being disturbed, they are be handled by too many people, they are being exposed to innumerable health risks, and their future (next 12-15 years) is not absolutely certain. Do the sugar gliders a favor and DON'T buy them for school. Wouldn't a guinea pig or a parakeet be a little bit better choice? These animals are daytime active and very animated. They are also a lot easier to take care of properly. Animals can be very interesting and edcational even if you can't hold them. REMEMBER, the animals needs should come first, not yours or the childrens.

Raechel
Boober, Wembly, Mokie, Sydney, and their 4 babies.

: Also to be honest I am concerned too. Think about how many
: kids get sick every year from being in school. Poeple carry
: all kinds of different bactira and viruses to schools. If a lot
: of different kids/people hold them. The gliders WILL get sick.
: You can't give a glider a booster shot like cats and dogs. Once they
: get sick..it's going to be hard for someone to know it's sick, and then
: by the time they do see it showing signs of being sick. You might loose
: the poor little glider. Those are my thoughts and opionions.

: Nikki
: Wickit
: Little Bit

: : To be honest I am rather concerned about this program. Are these gliders going to sleep at school in the evenings? I think it is important to remember that these are nocturnal animals and it is completely unfair to have people handling them all day long while they want to sleep and have no stimulation all night while they are wide awake and ready to play. What educational purpose is this to serve? Can the school in any way ensure that this program will be able to care for these gliders for the next 14 years? Is there going to be a permanent primary caretaker who knows how to tell if a glider is ill? I do not think that the school is an appropriate or comfortable living environment for Sugar Gliders and I think to force gliders to live like is cruel. Sorry, but that is just my opinion!

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