One day in eighth grade, my classmates and I heard a thud in the middle of class and saw that a spider had fallen from the ceiling and landed on a desk. We decided to keep it, and over the course of the month, my teacher made class readings of “Dracula” more engaging by including our pet spider whenever spiders were mentioned.

As students become increasingly disengaged from their learning environment, class pets offer a solution that could boost enthusiasm for school. Having a class pet would give students something to look forward to every day, while teaching skills like responsibility. Hence, HHS should explore having class pets. 

On the weekends, students can take turns bringing the pet home, and during the week, they can take turns feeding it. This experience can instill good habits that would not be traditionally learned in the classroom. 

Personally, I have two cats, and I clean their litter boxes often, which has taught me discipline in my everyday life. When I do not clean their boxes, they tend to put their droppings elsewhere, which shows me immediate consequences for my actions.  

Additionally, class pets help students mentally by calming them down and creating a happier classroom environment. Pets are scientifically proven to help with mental health by filling their owners with a sense of purpose and companionship, according to the University of California, Davis Health. 

Consequently, having a class pet could boost students’ confidence and make them more productive.

Putting this into practice, a high school teacher from Balboa High School in San Francisco said that after she added a terrarium and fishtank to her class, students would take “brain breaks” and feed the pets or observe them. She noticed that her students were calmer and more focused after taking these breaks, according to Knowles Teacher Initiative.

Although it may be difficult for every class to have a pet because of high costs and maintenance, the Meadow would be a good place for a class pet because students often feel comfortable and less stressed around animals. Students with allergies may complicate having class pets around, but having two separate classrooms could accommodate this issue. 

Overall, class pets are a great way to help students because they make for a fun addition to any classroom. More importantly, they support a healthier, more engaging haven for students to learn and develop themselves both academically and personally.