[Gpdd] MISC: poor schoolroom guinea pig

[Ruth Leibowitz]

My heart goes out to this little guinea pig in the classroom.  Is there someone in authority who you could speak to about the values being taught to the children if they are not being taught to properly care for the guinea pig?  From an educational point of view, the school is missing an opportunity to use the guinea pig as a vehicle for the children to learn empathy, to think about what kind of creature a guinea pig is and what it needs to be happy, etc.  Could you provide written educational material about the care of guinea pigs -- some people just don't have a clue and are amenable when they are educated.  It sounds like maybe there is a power struggle between you and that particular teacher -- perhaps providing written materials or even a nice children's guinea pig book that can be read out loud in the classroom could help.  Are there other teachers or employees who are animal lovers there who could take up the cause after you are gone?  This sounds like a difficult situation -- and the poor piggy ends up not having the life he could have because of it.  This could be such a great opportunity for education, if you or an ally there could figure out a win-win strategy.  Just some thoughts on the matter.
 
Ruth in Portland
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