Studies on the use of animals of economic importance in schools

The purpose of keeping animals in schools and the main problems encountered in their maintenance are summarised. Many teachers prefer animals which are kept typically in research laboratories over animals which can be collected from the student's environment. However, small animals of economic importance can combine some of the advantages of both of these groups of animals. Chickens, bees, plant pests and their natural enemies have been tried out in the Agriculture as Environmental Science Curriculum Project and can be used for observation and measurement as well as to stress the aspect of relevance to real life problems. In their maintenance, standard equipment and methods can often be used and help the teacher to solve some of the main problems of keeping animals. Two curriculum units, on a fruit fly and on honey bees, are described. Reasons for a widespread negative image of rural studies are discussed, and positive, effective outcomes, reported in the evaluation of an environmental science course, are used to substantiate the advantages of keeping animals of economic importance in schools.