Image of a rat, parrot, goldfish, salamander, and a corgi in a classroom setting

Debate photos courtesy of families; Shutterstock.com (all other images)

Should Schools Have Classroom Pets?

April 10, 2023

When students leave the Sarasota School of Arts and Sciences each day, Cleo stays behind. That’s because she lives in the school! Cleo, a bearded dragon, is one of the pets at the Florida middle school. Students there also care for about 50 fish and 2 rats.

Tara Tahmosh is the school’s principal. She says having classroom pets has helped students feel less anxious and improved their behavior.

“They become a little more respectful,” Tahmosh explains. “They won’t raise their voices. They don’t want to upset an animal.”

But some people think classrooms aren’t good homes for pets, which are often left alone overnight and on weekends. Critics also worry that being in busy classrooms with kids poking at the cages or tanks can be stressful for the animals.

Here’s what two of our readers think.

Caring for pets helps teach kids responsibility. In third and fourth grades, we had chickens as classroom pets. We took care of them and fed them. Our teachers included the chickens in our science lessons.

Having animals in the classroom can help reduce stress. According to one study, 74 percent of pet owners in the U.S. report an improvement in mental health thanks to their pets.

I like animals, but there are risks in keeping pets in classrooms. First, some kids are allergic to animal fur. Their allergies can flare up just by having something as small as a hamster in the room. Also, some pets can carry diseases.

A pet can be a distraction for students too. They might not listen to their teacher because they’re paying attention to the animal instead.