Queenie visits school.

[koubee]

Queenie has been out and about again, visiting kinder and school.
I think it is vital for kids to learn about Australian Wildlife, ie: Snakes.
Some kids where really scared but eventually all ended up coming over and having a pat.
Later i heard many kids saying "when i get bigger, i'm getting a snake".

[snakes4me2]

Good to see that bug has got some of them allready. Do you need any sort of permit to take them to a school because my kids want me to take one of our snakes to school for show and tell but someone said you need a permit, do you know of any truth to that?

[mertle]

isn't it a bit young to be with so many people? won't it get cold or stressed?????

[koubee]

I asked the teacher first, and that was ok but had to clear it with th principal.
Ask the principal first, I guess it's a bit like bringing in the family pet.
Some kids bring in their pet kitten or dog, and with those generally you just need to check with the school first.

[Bigblackdog]

Great work!
Educate 'em nice & young.

[koubee]

Originally Posted by mertle

isn't it a bit young to be with so many people? won't it get cold or stressed?????

I guess very snake is different, Queenie really seemed to enjoy her school visit.
We handle Queenie daily except for a couple of days after a feed.
She has the most amazing temprement, so calm.
She was only out for about half an hour, if that, as we live pretty close to the school.

[Mukesh]

i wish i had ppl like you when i was at school
the few times i was there :wink:

[snakes4me2]

Yeah the teacher is fine with it, I just have to check with the principal. Was guna wait for it to warm up a bit too. I dont think I would trust mine around heaps of kids when its cold. Just to be safe anyway, would hate some kid going home saying a snake bit them at school

[jordo]

Good to see that bug has got some of them allready. Do you need any sort of permit to take them to a school because my kids want me to take one of our snakes to school for show and tell but someone said you need a permit, do you know of any truth to that?

I think in vic we need a demonstrators licence for it to be legal but i'd say just go for it, as long as the animal is not stressed and you don't make a profit I don't see any problem with it.

[snakes4me2]

Thanks jordo, Not in it for profit so thats a good start, the one I will take doesnt get too stressed around kids,(took her to our SES break up party) and everyones kid had a pat so TOUCH WOOD she be ok

[Nome]

Isn't that the snake that you said wasn't going to the toilet and was lethargic a couple of days ago and wanted to bath her? If you are handling her regularly and taking a young snake out for people to touch like that, I would say there's your problem.

Legally you aren't supposed to take reptiles to a school without having an exhibitors permit, but I'm sure things like show and tell for one's own children aren't a problem.

Point is to be smart about it, take only a snake that won't get stressed and bite anyone. When I did it, we waited till a very warm day, and it was a brief 5 minute thing with a older snake, and under no circumstances didn't allow anyone else to touch it, it was my daughter just 'showing' it to the class with them at their distance(school policy was also this)

[koubee]

Thanks Nome, it was just for show and tell, and as i said earlier it was cleared with the principal, she was actually there watching.
As for Queenie's toilet issues, all is fine now. But as i said i was just for show and tell and no-one was in any danger.
This was a rewarding experience for the students in my daughters class and i am proud to tell others about it.

[snakeeyes]

i took monty to school for my sons show and tell, it stressed her out and she hid for 2 weeks afterwards, guess most snakes are different, well monty anyways..lol

[Mysnakeau]

That is such a cute little snake. How can anyone be scared of that??

Mind you, when someone dropped some wild caught snakes into my pet store, and told me they were taipans I was terrified to open the jar. They brought the snakes in a coffee jar with plastic lid so not a single air hole for them. They were only babies, not even a foot long but while I was attempting to remove the lid to replace it with a fish net so they could breath, they were stretching up and I could hear my heart thumping in my ears. A fauna carer came in and picked them up and later advised me the snakes were harmless tree snakes.
Kathy

[ponybug]

i agree with nome, when did this show and tell happen, if it was today don't you think that was a bit soon after the worry you had about it not pooping? i hope for your snakes sake that it wasn't to stressed out, but i guess we will find out in the next few weeks, just remember this day in a few weeks if your little guy has any troubles, i'm all for handling snakes and showing kids that they are great animals, but maybe you should wait until your's is a bit larger, and as far as i know it is illegal to take your snake anywhere in public to show people, i was asked to do the same for my nephews school but i said no because my snakes mean more to me then showing a few kids, do you relise that if your snake scared or bit just one little kid and they told their parents that not only could you get finded, but you leave yourself open to being sued, as well as the school and the possible lose of your licence and snake,

please don't take this the wrong way, i don't have a problem with what you did as you own the snake, but i also think other newer members should know what they risk by taking their reptiles out into the public, is it really worth it?

cheers,
steve...........
ps, this is just my opinion and might be wrong................