Kiley Treen is a teacher who has started bringing a German Shepherd named Jenny to her school. Kiley brings the animal to the agriculture-related class in a junior-senior high school in western Canada on select days.
The administrators of the school say that bringing the dog to the classroom allows the students to become more engaged and have real-world experience.
It’s not a common occurrence to see a dog walking through the hallways of a school, but students at the high school in west Canada routinely get to experience this.
The students are doing a lot of effective learning because of the pooch. The black German Shepherd assists in teaching multiple biology-related subjects to the students belonging to grades 8 to 12.
Treen got the idea of bringing her dog to her school when she saw a special education teacher bringing a certified therapy dog in another school.
Treen said that she could see the immediate difference that the dog had made to the environment of the classroom. Treen added that she wanted the students not just to make sense of a piece of paper, but also have real-world experience.
Olivia Carney, a senior student, aspiring to be a vet, was really excited after she found out that a canine would be involved in the lectures. Olivia said that she loved the idea of bringing a dog in the classroom so that the teacher could be assisted in making the students comprehend the lectures in a better way.
Treen’s decision to bring her dog to the classroom has made a significant difference in the attitude of students not only inside the classroom but also outside. The students are now more inclined to get hands-on training.
Moreover, the day when Jenny is supposed to arrive at the school becomes a bright day for the students.
Image source: Alex Cooper via Times Telegram