Here we go again.

[Cacti3]

so, guys, today my math period teacher told us that she wanted to get a class pet and asked us what she should get. I said something like a hamster or fish, something easy and not hard to care for. She said no to that. She said she didn’t want an animal with fur and fish die too quickly… I was like okay….


I then thought of a beginner reptile that would be easy to care for. I thought maybe a bearded dragon or something simple. She said she didn’t want that…

Then the class said for her to get a turtle or tortoise.. I was just thinking “ please don’t be like last time “ ( if your wondering what I’m talking about, look at my forum about giving away my tortoise Shirley, forum name: I feel so guilty for giving away this sweet girl. )

But luckily she said no, then the class starting chanting CHAMELEON. I was screaming internally “ NOOO “ but then she said “ Actually, maybe… “ and I was just like nooooo she wants to put whatever animal on like a little table and there would be no space for a Cham and I would honestly just be taking care of it if I could…..

Luckily, she said maybe a snake but I was just like “ just get a simple pet “ but then she said “ Actually tommorrow I’m going to Petsmart and I’ll pick out an animal. “ and that would be a HORRIBLE idea. No research and probably a bad too small tank for it. I really hope she doesn’t get a reptile… I’m just scared tomorrow I’ll walk into math ( math is my first period ) and see a poor reptile in a bad tank….


Oh also today my social studies teacher who has 2 rabbits in the class and 3 fish one of the fish died becuase she kept a beta fish in a 2 gallon tank and they were both male bettas NEXT TO EACHOTHER…

She also keeps her 2 rabbits in way too small cages that honestly look like travel cages.. the younger brown rabbit has a cage and it’s so small he can only roam back and forth

I hope my math teacher does NOT GET A BABY CHAMELEON FROM PETSMART OR IM STEALING IT AND TAKING IT HOME.

 

[Carlton]

Teachers IME rarely if ever take advice from their students. They're the ones with authority, not the students. You could offer the teacher links to this website's husbandry information, especially focused on how much $ and daily time a cham would require. Don't forget rearing and maintaining the LIVE INSECT colonies one would require. The water mess, the plant care, all of it. Don't forget the horror stories about how PetSmart mistreats their livestock and how unhealthy they tend to be. Does she really want to support such a business?

IMHO take your concerns about classroom pets to school management and provide them with information that demonstrates how inhumane keeping a chameleon in a classroom would be. The teacher can't always avoid ignoring them!

 

[BleuSaphir]

If she truly put the effort to research proper chameleon husbandry. I think a chameleon in a classroom is fine. As long as she put the enclosure away from the students. But still viewable.
Otherwise maybe point her to Crested Gecko or Long Tail Lizard sold at Petsmart.

In my childhood times; I had a second grade teacher who put her Green Iguanas in the classroom. She had her son and husband to assemble a custom big enclosure for them. They got 16 ft enclosure 3 ft wide and 6 ft tall. For the pair. The third and fourth Green Iguanas are kept at her home. She would rotate the iguanas.
She expanded into other animals. Like Fire Belly Toads and two tarantulas. I miss those times.

 

[MissSkittles]

There are many animals in need of homes available for modest fees from rescues. I think something like a ball python could be hardy enough for a classroom and there are certainly many in need of homes. It’s an opportunity for teaching so many values by rescuing. If this teacher does show up tomorrow with a poor chameleon and the chameleon death kit, and refuses to listen to come here or watch Neptune videos, please do steal the poor thing.