Name the FCPS school (bc this is the FCPS Forum afterall) or it didn't happen.

Otherwise, just another copy & pasted post from Reddit. Yawn.

Anonymous wrote:My child is not sneezing and doesn’t have a cold. Her eyes are red and swollen.

What have you done to rule out other possibilities, like seasonal allergies?

Anonymous wrote:While it is possible your child is allergic to the class rodent, it is far more likely that she is allergic to one or more of the following:

1. Animal hair on a classmate's clothes
2. Mold in the building
3. Mildew in the building

A staff member's perfume, cologne, hairspray etc or something in the cleaning supplies.

Don't any of your remember when classroom pets were all the rage? It's as if life never happened before you came along.

The pets were a learning tool. A lot of schools stopped it because of

- it's actually very stressful for the animal
- it was a big imposition have it cared for on weekends and holidays.
- possible allergies
- sanitation

My son's K class had a hamster for a very short time. It didn't come back after a long weekend, and that was the end of that.

Anonymous wrote:It’s a hamster or Guinea pig. I don’t think it’s fair to medicate my child and I had never heard of animals at school. Dd is allergic to cats and dogs we aren’t sure about the class pet just curious.

Which is it?

Anonymous wrote:I think it's cruel to have a classroom pet. It's a little animal forced to live in a tiny cage, where it is poked and handled by many people, and will often be handled roughly or mistreated as well.

I don't want my child to be "taught" that animals are playthings.

A lot of districts don’t allow them because of this very reason. The FCPS elementary school that I work at doesn’t allow class pets.

Just send an email to the principal.

I think it's cruel to have a classroom pet. It's a little animal forced to live in a tiny cage, where it is poked and handled by many people, and will often be handled roughly or mistreated as well.

I don't want my child to be "taught" that animals are playthings.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, we have 10-12 mice. But they only come out when no one is around and they poop everywhere. I told Dr Reid about our pet but she hasn’t come by to meet them yet.

You won the internet today. Hilarious.

But this poster makes a good point. Every school I’ve ever worked in has been infested with mice. Look at the pest extermination boxes outside. I’m sure your building has them. So if this pet get removed, you will still have rodents in the room, walls and ceiling. At least this one is in a cage.

Anonymous wrote:My DC may have an allergy to soap. Soap has no place in schools! Focus on learning.

Troll. You obviously do not have a kid with asthma and allergies. After seeing your kid barely breathing in oxygen and struggling for hours in a hospital, you would feel differently, too.

The bedding does stink in the room with the guinea pig. I was shocked that it was allowed in there.

My DC may have an allergy to soap. Soap has no place in schools! Focus on learning.

Anonymous wrote:Pets are something to learn about,

In a book. There are lots of great picture books, non-fiction books, and even chapter books about pets. BONUS: Kids practice reading!

Pets are something to learn about,

OP may be overly anxious but WTF - get the pets out of classrooms and focus on teaching/learning. An unncesessary distraction and time suck as well as possible allergent. There are plenty of other classroom-appropriate ways to make things fun in school. Seriously.

(Plus what about equity? MY child doesn't have a classroom guinea pig!)