Students Learn Responsibility Nurturing Classroom Animals
Philadelphia, Pa. – Twenty years ago, if inner-city Philadelphia school teachers wanted to expose their students to the wonders of the animal kingdom, they chartered a yellow school bus and made the trek to the Philadelphia Zoo.
But now, thanks to an ongoing 4-H program sponsored by Penn State University, students in schools across the city are getting the opportunity to raise, nurture and study animals right in their own classrooms.
Jackie Simon, program aide for the Philadelphia 4-H Club Animal Sciences Program – which includes small animal, reptile, equine and livestock study – described recently the importance of providing such educational options to city children from her office at 46th and Market streets.
"It’s a nice way for them to spend their leisure time when they’re not in the classroom," said Simon, about students raising pets at home and taking part in the many 4-H after-school programs. "Animals need to be cared for, and kids need these (opportunities) to focus on positive things like this. I hope a few will go on to become veterinarians."
At the John P. Turner Middle School in West Philadelphia students are raising Leghorn chicks to learn about embryology, and they are also caring for rabbits and a snake. The animals are actually housed on school grounds.
"At Turner, they work it into the curriculum through the science labs," said Simon. "Working with kids is great. They pick up on things a lot better than you might think, and they really enjoy caring for the animals." She said she has had to delicately answer a variety of questions on mating and other sensitive issues.
Students of all grade levels at Turner School are getting the opportunity to work with the animals. It’s something that community leaders, teachers and administrators at the school believe will pay dividends for students over the course of their lives. Among other things, it teaches them the type of responsibility that can be invaluable as they mature toward adulthood.
"It’s doing a lot. It’s teaching them how to nurture; it’s teaching them how to care for things," said Pat Evans, director of the 4-H after-school program at Turner. "It’s helping them to be team players in order to accomplish things. All of these are traits that can help in the community."
And students say they are having a great time raising the animals.
"I think it’s nice what they (4-H) are doing, because it’s a good thing for the kids so they’re not getting into trouble, and stuff," said Lorraine Williams, 14, a 7th grader at Turner School. "I like taking care of the animals. I want to be a veterinarian."
Simon began her position with Penn State last July, but the Roxborough resident has been an animal enthusiast for years. She has a horse stable and some livestock at her property, and she provides some of the animals for the 4-H animal programs in the schools. She gave some baby rabbits to Turner School, so students there could document their progress from the early stages, and see just how fragile they are.
"The rabbits had just opened their eyes," said Simon. "They are really coming along nicely, with the help of the students’ care."
In addition to her in-school activities, Simon is heavily involved in an equine club in Northeast Philadelphia and Andorra, where youngsters can learn about horses. She is preparing students for the possibility of entering their animals in the Philadelphia County Fair, which is slated for late May through early June. More than 70 Philadelphia area schools currently take part in the 4-H Animal Sciences Program.
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Contact: David Jwanier, Penn State Great Valley, at 610 648 3276 or at
