Teacher: Compassionate or Buggin' Out?

Like this story?

Teacher: Compassionate or Buggin' Out?

Thursday, March 6, 2008

A California teacher creates "bug monitor" job in her classroom.

Elementary school teacher Melodie Conrad doesn't allow any violence in her classroom—and that includes killing bugs. So she's created a "bug monitor" position to scoop up insects and take them outside. "I absolutely just feel like we live in a society where violence is prevalent, and I've seen that over the years I've been teaching. I just wanted to be careful that they're exposed to just the opposite in this room," Conrad told the Daily News. While some (especially exterminators) may think she's a little out there, PETA is giving the Eagle Rock Elementary instructor a Compassionate Teacher Award for her efforts. What do you think?

filed under: breaking news

share: | Permalink |

Email | Comments (1)

1 comment so far | Post a comment now >>

There is nothing wrong with teaching kids respect for nature and life. I am a teacher and I set bugs free with my students. I’m not sure if I’d assign a student to do it- however I do shoo bugs out of my windows. Bugs do belong outside- and it it really gross wiping up a squished bug from the floor so nobody touches it. Are we sure that this school doesn’t have a bug “problem” and this teacher isn’t trying to get some attention so that the issue is solved? Nothing like seeing a kid walk by 15 times a day rescuing a bug to get people talking. I once knew a teacher whose class kept a chart of all the mice caught in the various traps in her wing of the building (some dead, some alive in have-a-heart traps). It got noticed and steps were taken to keep the mice out of the building (filling in holes, better cleaning etc.).

- t

Posted 03/06/08 06:15 PM

Name:
Email:	(not displayed)
URL:
	remember me? Yes No
Comment:
	Avoid clicking “Post” more than once.