Ecological Book Reviews
Some books that will teach you more about environmental causes are:
SCAT: Carl Hiaasen
HOOT: Carl Hiaasen
FLUSH: Carl Hiaasen
CHOMP: Carl Hiaasen
NIGHT OF THE SPADEFOOT TOADS: Bill Harley
WRINGER: Jerry Spinelli
If you'd like a review, check out the bottom. Magazines and issues about care for the world also work as a great source. After all, magazines do their research before publishing an article! We do, too!
HOOT
Hoot is a great novel about a boy named Roy, Beatrice Leep, and her brother, Mullet Fingers. Yes, I know it's confusing and annoying to see so many words together in one sentence, but, it's about a book, so HELLO! In this adventurous book, Mullet Fingers, as so he calls himself, starts stealing stuff like machines in the construction site of Mother Paula's All American Pancake House. But, no one knows who did it... besides Roy and Beatrice. And, on top of that, Mullet Fingers doesn't have an education, and he runs away from home every year and doesn't ever return. His mother doesn't want him anymore, and his father honestly doesn't care after putting Mullet Fingers in military school to "normalize the boy", but he ends up running away from that place, too. And... he runs from almost 10,000 miles back home barefoot. No kidding. And, he's the most athletic kid I read about. Barefoot, running, WAKE UP PEOPLE! Now, I haven't told you why he does all this. Yet. Well, it's for an animal. A huge species. But, you read the book yourself to find out; I'm not telling!
- By: Varivashya Poladi
FLUSH
Flush is another fantastic read about human waste. No, let me take that back; it's about 2 kids that try to help stop the stinky human waste dropping from a casino boat into the ocean. Gross stuff huh? But, we're lucky; no pictures! But, Noah's dad knows the real truth behind all of this, but currently throughout the book sitting in jail or in house arrest for doing something stupid: sinking the casino. So, Noah and his sister want to help, but they think they are just lazy, old, dumb kids. What can they do? NOT! They can do something, and they did. They used something At the opening, now, you read the text, why me?!
- By: Varivashya Poladi
SCAT: Carl Hiaasen
HOOT: Carl Hiaasen
FLUSH: Carl Hiaasen
CHOMP: Carl Hiaasen
NIGHT OF THE SPADEFOOT TOADS: Bill Harley
WRINGER: Jerry Spinelli
If you'd like a review, check out the bottom. Magazines and issues about care for the world also work as a great source. After all, magazines do their research before publishing an article! We do, too!
HOOT
Hoot is a great novel about a boy named Roy, Beatrice Leep, and her brother, Mullet Fingers. Yes, I know it's confusing and annoying to see so many words together in one sentence, but, it's about a book, so HELLO! In this adventurous book, Mullet Fingers, as so he calls himself, starts stealing stuff like machines in the construction site of Mother Paula's All American Pancake House. But, no one knows who did it... besides Roy and Beatrice. And, on top of that, Mullet Fingers doesn't have an education, and he runs away from home every year and doesn't ever return. His mother doesn't want him anymore, and his father honestly doesn't care after putting Mullet Fingers in military school to "normalize the boy", but he ends up running away from that place, too. And... he runs from almost 10,000 miles back home barefoot. No kidding. And, he's the most athletic kid I read about. Barefoot, running, WAKE UP PEOPLE! Now, I haven't told you why he does all this. Yet. Well, it's for an animal. A huge species. But, you read the book yourself to find out; I'm not telling!
- By: Varivashya Poladi
FLUSH
Flush is another fantastic read about human waste. No, let me take that back; it's about 2 kids that try to help stop the stinky human waste dropping from a casino boat into the ocean. Gross stuff huh? But, we're lucky; no pictures! But, Noah's dad knows the real truth behind all of this, but currently throughout the book sitting in jail or in house arrest for doing something stupid: sinking the casino. So, Noah and his sister want to help, but they think they are just lazy, old, dumb kids. What can they do? NOT! They can do something, and they did. They used something At the opening, now, you read the text, why me?!
- By: Varivashya Poladi
SCAT
SCAT, that is. If you are thinking about the scat being poop, you are wrong. In fact, this book has nothing scientific about human waste. Don't go yet, there's more! Two, or should I say, three students are in an adventure with two adults to save... Wait, what am I doing? You have to read the book to find out what all of it is about. I will give you a clue. They are saving a rare and endangered species whose habitat happens to be in the forest. You might think that is about some kind of lion or something of the sort but it isn't. That's why it is "rare and endangered". This whole adventure starts with a normal class on a normal day going on a trip in the forests until someone lit the forest up in fire, but thankfully it was just an arson. Was their someone specific out to get them, or was it just an 'accident'? You must read to find out!!!
-By: Grace Yang
SCAT, that is. If you are thinking about the scat being poop, you are wrong. In fact, this book has nothing scientific about human waste. Don't go yet, there's more! Two, or should I say, three students are in an adventure with two adults to save... Wait, what am I doing? You have to read the book to find out what all of it is about. I will give you a clue. They are saving a rare and endangered species whose habitat happens to be in the forest. You might think that is about some kind of lion or something of the sort but it isn't. That's why it is "rare and endangered". This whole adventure starts with a normal class on a normal day going on a trip in the forests until someone lit the forest up in fire, but thankfully it was just an arson. Was their someone specific out to get them, or was it just an 'accident'? You must read to find out!!!
-By: Grace Yang
JULIE OF THE WOLVES
In the adventurous tale Julie of the Wolves by Jean Craighead George, 13 year old Miyax becomes family with the wolves of the tundra in Alaska. With scarce food and bad shelter she survives through the harsh winter with bravery, strength and a few heartbreaks. Losing Amaroq and Tornait has made a dent in her life, but not enough to keep her from finding her dad. Constant use of powerful words makes you want to keep turning the pages. Repetition of certain phrases makes you feel like you are in the wintery top of the world. The mixture of violence and sorrow makes this book a 4.5 star rating. When Miyax gets the letters from Amy she is more tempted to go to San Francesco. The explanation and details of the time when Miyax was with her pack was extraordinary. All the times when Miyax is with Kapu, Jean shows the emotions and internal and external thoughts. In the second part of the book when it takes us back in time it shows what happened before the journey and when she met the wolves. I think readers should read this because not many kids can relate to it and it is really cool to know that some kids that are 13 who get an arranged marriage. I also think that children should read this because They can learn how the life of an Eskimo is high at the top of the world where the temperature is subzero.
-By: Allison Ramz
In the adventurous tale Julie of the Wolves by Jean Craighead George, 13 year old Miyax becomes family with the wolves of the tundra in Alaska. With scarce food and bad shelter she survives through the harsh winter with bravery, strength and a few heartbreaks. Losing Amaroq and Tornait has made a dent in her life, but not enough to keep her from finding her dad. Constant use of powerful words makes you want to keep turning the pages. Repetition of certain phrases makes you feel like you are in the wintery top of the world. The mixture of violence and sorrow makes this book a 4.5 star rating. When Miyax gets the letters from Amy she is more tempted to go to San Francesco. The explanation and details of the time when Miyax was with her pack was extraordinary. All the times when Miyax is with Kapu, Jean shows the emotions and internal and external thoughts. In the second part of the book when it takes us back in time it shows what happened before the journey and when she met the wolves. I think readers should read this because not many kids can relate to it and it is really cool to know that some kids that are 13 who get an arranged marriage. I also think that children should read this because They can learn how the life of an Eskimo is high at the top of the world where the temperature is subzero.
-By: Allison Ramz
CHOMP
Have you ever been trapped in the Everglades with a mad shooter running amuck using your dad as a hostage all while a phony television survivalist is lost and thinks he’s a crazy vampire? I’m going to go out on a limb here and think not. In Chomp By Carl Hiaasen, even though all of that Everglade lost and with a shooter nonsense will actually sound quite true, and quite real. The book is written in a very interesting way. No matter how hard you try, you just can’t put the book down. The book is about a boy named Wahoo Cray. Wahoo. Not like the fish, he was named by his dad, after a wrestler. His dad’s name is Mickey Cray, and the story begins with a frozen stiff seven pound iguana falling on his head, and he gets a serious concussion. He is a reptile wrangler, he gets along better with animals than he does with humans. One day, his son gets him a job for Expedition Survival! A reality show that’s about a phony called Derek Badger as he “Survives” in the wild with wild animals and beasts. He’s a total flake, all of the animals used in the show are tamed, and every night he sleeps in a five star hotel. That is until he decides he wants to do the show with wild animals, after an encounter with Alice, Mickey’s alligator. The same alligator that chomped off Wahoo’s right thumb. Derek decides that the episode will be shot with wild animals, and Mickey and Wahoo will be the people doing the actual wrangling. While preparing for the trip at a stop at Walmart, Wahoo and his dad meet Tuna, a girl in Wahoo’s class. She has an abusive drunk for a father, who gave her a big black eye. Mickey thinks that Tuna is safer with him and Wahoo, so he invites Tuna to join Wahoo and him on their journey to the Everyglades. After Derek being bitten by a snake, a snapping turtle, an alligator, and then he gets bitten by a fruit bat. The experience leads him to think that he is a vampire, and her steals an airboat to run away. Unfortunately, he is not a real survivalist, and gets lost almost immediately. With that going on, Jared Gordon, Tuna’s father tracks her down in the everglades a had two things; Beer and a gun. Not a good combination. With Mickey as his hostage bad things happen, but the one thing that Mickey won’t let happen, is allow Jared to find Wahoo and Tuna. He realizes that he is the only thing standing between them, and he can’t let him find them, even though it costs him a toe. Soon enough Derek finds Jared about to kill someone, and (Thinking he’s a vampire) chomps down on Jared’s neck. The police locate the gunman and there’s a happy ending. The book is great. I think that it’s a five star book and deserves you reading it! So, tell me, what are you waiting for?
-By: Jennifer Dresner
Have you ever been trapped in the Everglades with a mad shooter running amuck using your dad as a hostage all while a phony television survivalist is lost and thinks he’s a crazy vampire? I’m going to go out on a limb here and think not. In Chomp By Carl Hiaasen, even though all of that Everglade lost and with a shooter nonsense will actually sound quite true, and quite real. The book is written in a very interesting way. No matter how hard you try, you just can’t put the book down. The book is about a boy named Wahoo Cray. Wahoo. Not like the fish, he was named by his dad, after a wrestler. His dad’s name is Mickey Cray, and the story begins with a frozen stiff seven pound iguana falling on his head, and he gets a serious concussion. He is a reptile wrangler, he gets along better with animals than he does with humans. One day, his son gets him a job for Expedition Survival! A reality show that’s about a phony called Derek Badger as he “Survives” in the wild with wild animals and beasts. He’s a total flake, all of the animals used in the show are tamed, and every night he sleeps in a five star hotel. That is until he decides he wants to do the show with wild animals, after an encounter with Alice, Mickey’s alligator. The same alligator that chomped off Wahoo’s right thumb. Derek decides that the episode will be shot with wild animals, and Mickey and Wahoo will be the people doing the actual wrangling. While preparing for the trip at a stop at Walmart, Wahoo and his dad meet Tuna, a girl in Wahoo’s class. She has an abusive drunk for a father, who gave her a big black eye. Mickey thinks that Tuna is safer with him and Wahoo, so he invites Tuna to join Wahoo and him on their journey to the Everyglades. After Derek being bitten by a snake, a snapping turtle, an alligator, and then he gets bitten by a fruit bat. The experience leads him to think that he is a vampire, and her steals an airboat to run away. Unfortunately, he is not a real survivalist, and gets lost almost immediately. With that going on, Jared Gordon, Tuna’s father tracks her down in the everglades a had two things; Beer and a gun. Not a good combination. With Mickey as his hostage bad things happen, but the one thing that Mickey won’t let happen, is allow Jared to find Wahoo and Tuna. He realizes that he is the only thing standing between them, and he can’t let him find them, even though it costs him a toe. Soon enough Derek finds Jared about to kill someone, and (Thinking he’s a vampire) chomps down on Jared’s neck. The police locate the gunman and there’s a happy ending. The book is great. I think that it’s a five star book and deserves you reading it! So, tell me, what are you waiting for?
-By: Jennifer Dresner
NIGHT OF THE SPADEFOOT TOADS
If you just read this book's title, you're probably just going to say, "What the heck are spadefoot toads?" Well, I am here to inform you that the spadefoot toads are not just some regular toad, it's an endangered toad that could die out in just a few years. Many people including you may have never heard of them. This is how Bill Harley incorporates and twists these fragile animals into his story of sympathy and compassion. Ben is having trouble fitting in but he soon finds himself three new friends, including his science teacher, Mrs. Tibbets. He also finds himself helping Mrs. Tibbets with her yard work, and also to help her keep her special secrets about her husband, her life, and her very own backyard. Hey, am I spoiling the book for you? I better not because my lips are sealed shut with double hot dripping wax so you better not tempt me to open my mouth! Come along, the book is easy to get, from Amazon, through a jet, into your open classroom window, open the book, relax, enjoy, and start reading!
-By: Grace Yang
If you just read this book's title, you're probably just going to say, "What the heck are spadefoot toads?" Well, I am here to inform you that the spadefoot toads are not just some regular toad, it's an endangered toad that could die out in just a few years. Many people including you may have never heard of them. This is how Bill Harley incorporates and twists these fragile animals into his story of sympathy and compassion. Ben is having trouble fitting in but he soon finds himself three new friends, including his science teacher, Mrs. Tibbets. He also finds himself helping Mrs. Tibbets with her yard work, and also to help her keep her special secrets about her husband, her life, and her very own backyard. Hey, am I spoiling the book for you? I better not because my lips are sealed shut with double hot dripping wax so you better not tempt me to open my mouth! Come along, the book is easy to get, from Amazon, through a jet, into your open classroom window, open the book, relax, enjoy, and start reading!
-By: Grace Yang
Suryia and Roscoe: An Unlikely Friendship
By: Jasveenkaur Wahan
In the book, Suryia & Roscoe: The True Story of an Unlikely Friendship by Bhagavan “Doc” Antle and Thea Feldman, an orangutan named Suryia is on his way to the river with his friend Bubbles the elephant. On his way, a dog named Roscoe runs out of the woods right as they pass him. Suryia sees the dog and runs towards it to hug it, and Roscoe runs up to Suryia and smiles. They played at the riverbank for a while until Suryia had to go. Roscoe followed Suryia home and since he didn’t have an owner, the T.I.G.E.R.S. (The Institute of Greatly Endangered and Rare Species) got to keep Roscoe. Suryia and Roscoe became best buddies from that day onwards. They did everything together and never got lost again. Bhagavan Antle founded the T.I.G.E.R.S. preserve, and wrote this book about the friendships between two of his animals from the preserves.
This book is an inspirational book because you learn about an extraordinary friendship. It gives us inspiration because something that wasn’t thought to happen, and orangutan and a dog becoming friends, actually happened, and the not only became friends, they were BFF’s! Orangutans and dogs are usually shy around each other, but Suryia and Roscoe practically ran into each other!!! This shows that those two weren’t shy at all, but instead eager to make new friends. It’s also inspiring because when Suryia had to leave, Roscoe followed him all the way back to T.I.G.E.R.S. just so he could be with him! That shows that even though they had known each other for less than a day, they already seemed to care a lot about each other. Also, Suryia and Roscoe both helped each other out. Orangutans don’t swim, so Roscoe swam in the water while he let Suryia hold on to him (Suryia was wearing a life jacket.) Also, Suryia led him around the place on a leash so he wouldn’t get lost. This shows that they cared about each other and didn’t mind doing things and small tasks for one another.
By: Jasveenkaur Wahan
In the book, Suryia & Roscoe: The True Story of an Unlikely Friendship by Bhagavan “Doc” Antle and Thea Feldman, an orangutan named Suryia is on his way to the river with his friend Bubbles the elephant. On his way, a dog named Roscoe runs out of the woods right as they pass him. Suryia sees the dog and runs towards it to hug it, and Roscoe runs up to Suryia and smiles. They played at the riverbank for a while until Suryia had to go. Roscoe followed Suryia home and since he didn’t have an owner, the T.I.G.E.R.S. (The Institute of Greatly Endangered and Rare Species) got to keep Roscoe. Suryia and Roscoe became best buddies from that day onwards. They did everything together and never got lost again. Bhagavan Antle founded the T.I.G.E.R.S. preserve, and wrote this book about the friendships between two of his animals from the preserves.
This book is an inspirational book because you learn about an extraordinary friendship. It gives us inspiration because something that wasn’t thought to happen, and orangutan and a dog becoming friends, actually happened, and the not only became friends, they were BFF’s! Orangutans and dogs are usually shy around each other, but Suryia and Roscoe practically ran into each other!!! This shows that those two weren’t shy at all, but instead eager to make new friends. It’s also inspiring because when Suryia had to leave, Roscoe followed him all the way back to T.I.G.E.R.S. just so he could be with him! That shows that even though they had known each other for less than a day, they already seemed to care a lot about each other. Also, Suryia and Roscoe both helped each other out. Orangutans don’t swim, so Roscoe swam in the water while he let Suryia hold on to him (Suryia was wearing a life jacket.) Also, Suryia led him around the place on a leash so he wouldn’t get lost. This shows that they cared about each other and didn’t mind doing things and small tasks for one another.
It's not just book reviews, it's comparisons between books and now you can find exactly the kinds of books you want by reading these comparative essays (they're short, don't worry!) and decide which compassionate ecological book is meant for you! Find the just right book here...
Wringer
Wringer. Even the word sounds somewhat mysterious. Jerry Spinelli’s Wringer is a Newbery Honor Book that is about a boy named Palmer. In Palmer’s town, they kill pigeons because it is an honor, tradition, and activity that happens every year during the town’s annual Family Fest. In the town, every boy, that is 10 years old, are expected to become a wringer. This is the reason why Palmer fears his 10th birthday. However, things change when one day, during a snowstorm, a pigeon flew and started tapping on Palmer’s window. Surprised, Palmer decides to feed it and care for it. Palmer knows that if he keeps this pigeon he will be in deep trouble, but if he lets the pigeon (Nipper is what he called the pigeon because he bits/nips his ear everyday to wake him up) go it will eventually be killed during the year’s Family Fest.
Wringer. Even the word sounds somewhat mysterious. Jerry Spinelli’s Wringer is a Newbery Honor Book that is about a boy named Palmer. In Palmer’s town, they kill pigeons because it is an honor, tradition, and activity that happens every year during the town’s annual Family Fest. In the town, every boy, that is 10 years old, are expected to become a wringer. This is the reason why Palmer fears his 10th birthday. However, things change when one day, during a snowstorm, a pigeon flew and started tapping on Palmer’s window. Surprised, Palmer decides to feed it and care for it. Palmer knows that if he keeps this pigeon he will be in deep trouble, but if he lets the pigeon (Nipper is what he called the pigeon because he bits/nips his ear everyday to wake him up) go it will eventually be killed during the year’s Family Fest.
Another problem that Palmer is dealing with is that he became friends with a gang of boys, like he always wanted. Also, because Palmer wants to fit in, he insults and bullies his childhood friend, Dorothy. This is a big deal because Dorothy is the only one that Palmer knows and can trust that actually understands Palmer’s reason why he hates the Family Fest Pigeons Shooting. This is because she hates it as well. But as Palmer teams up and becomes friends with Beans, Mutto and Henry, they play pranks and mean things on Dorothy. In addition, Palmer starts a lot of them because he wants the attention on Dorothy instead of them paying attention to Nipper when he flies around Palmer’s house. Who knew that when they became friends that Beans, Mutto and Henry wound sneak up to Palmer’s house and wake him up in the middle of the night just so they can sneak out or stay in Palmer’s bed the whole entire time, talking about the Family Fest or how they would become a wringer or something like that. This was a terror to Palmer because when Palmer didn’t know when the gang was going to wake him up and if Nipper was seen… bad things are going to happen. And it gets worse too! One day, Bean spotted Nipper above their heads and then Nipper flew down to Palmer and landed on his head! This gave Bean’s some evidence that Palmer may have a pet pigeon. In addition, Bean’s suspiciousness about Palmer lying to them that he didn’t have a pigeon grew more and more from this moment on.
Since Palmer wanted Nipper gone (because he didn’t want Beans to kill Nipper or harm him in anyway) and since Dorothy was going on vacation to the beach, Palmer asked Dorothy to take Nipper with her. Dorothy agreed to let Nipper go when they drive by the city because people don’t shoot pigeons in the city, in fact they actually treat them like people, walking on the streets with people with no care at all. When Dorothy comes home from her vacation, she is in big trouble for letting Nipper go by the TRAIN STATION. This is a big deal because the train station is where they catch the 5,000 birds. Palmer is so frightened and he decides to pay close attention to each bird, hoping Nipper wasn’t shot, yet.
Palmer is stuck between 2 difficult choices that all come to him at once. They are fitting in with his friends by lying to them that he wants to be a wringer when he doesn’t and that he doesn’t have a pigeon, and if he saw one he would wring it. The other one is that Palmer would have to let Nipper go because he doesn’t want anybody killing him and he decides that he doesn’t want to hang out with Beans, Mutto and Henry and decides he will tell everybody that he won’t be that strong wringer and kill every pigeon to put them out of misery that he promised for everybody. I really want to say that one of the things that really stood out to me was the BEAUTIFUL ending! I’m not going to spoil it for you… surely, I assure you that you will understand once you read the ending.
Swazi Eleven
By: Katie Hsu, Alexis Aguiar, and Jennifer Dresner
Our class is working on things that we are compassionate about. It seemed crazy when talking about animals, to not look into the ethical treatment of them. As a result, we stumbled upon the article, “The Swazi Eleven.” It was a story about eleven elephants going from Swaziland, Africa, to zoos in the United States.There was a debate over whether the animals should go to zoos, because it isn't their natural habitat. Mick, the man whom was in charge of the whole thing (with his father) thinks that the animals would be better off in zoos. The elephants ate too much and there wasn’t enough food. In other places the elephants would face the threat of poaching. So as a result, the animals were sent to zoos. Just eleven elephants.
Let me just say, that was one of the most interesting discussions that class 5-301 had ever had. We all had our own opinions, everyone was engaged, people were backing up their thinking, and we even got to share our own questions. A memorable one asked by one of our compassionate kids named Ethan was, “Do you think Mick did the right thing?” Even though that question was our homework, the discussion we had before that was the most interesting. One person stated that the elephants were making people starve, and it was good that they were going to zoos. That statement sparked a whole lot of others. After one person stopped talking, another stepped right up and agreed or disagreed. One response was that the situation wasn't created until after the world industrialized. Even though the revolution was good, and helped make people’s lives easier, we took it too far. Overpopulation and all this endangered business wasn't a problem before we industrialized, how come it’s happening now?
Katie quoted one of our science teachers. Many of us know that people are deciding the overpopulation and under population amounts, correct? Well, our science teacher said, “Who are we to decide how much or how little of each animal there should be?” This quote started a debate of “I agree” and “I disagree.” Half the class agreed with Katie, while the class disagreed. Many of us can see why! The “Disagreed” side said that if we don’t limit the amount of one certain animal, we are going to destroy the habitat. The story states, “There were too many elephants living in the Mkhaya and Hlane Game Reserves. They were ruining the land. Elephants eat for up to eighteen hours a day. When they eat they tear bark off trees and even knock trees down. Elephants had destroyed so many trees that a big part of the parks was now only black and dead trees.” Also, people said that the elephants will come stomping down the school if we don’t cut their population. The “agreed” side said that if they want to stomp on us, go ahead. We were the ones that started to move them out of their homes! We are not the people to decide how much or how little there should be of something. If the animals destroy the land, it is in their nature and instinct. People can’t just let nature be? Humans can’t keep helping nature! The birds’ instincts are to find another home. If they lose this instinct, their next generation will have no conscience to find another home and they will die out. So, we want to hear your opinion! Who do you think is right or wrong.
Also we had a debate if animals should be killed to keep the population down or should they be left alone until they die naturally. Now this is was a hard decision we had to make. Most of the class agreed what Mick did which was let them die naturally. But the other side had a good point because if you let them die naturally they would take a long time and by that time all the food would be gone. If Mick had killed them after a certain age then he would not have to send them to zoos and have a huge fight with the public. But the other side agreeing with Mick said that since we destroyed their habitat we have to give back to them because it is only fair to the animals. This really shows that are class is a humane friendly class because we care that the animals get the right care they need just like Mick does.
By: Katie Hsu, Alexis Aguiar, and Jennifer Dresner
Our class is working on things that we are compassionate about. It seemed crazy when talking about animals, to not look into the ethical treatment of them. As a result, we stumbled upon the article, “The Swazi Eleven.” It was a story about eleven elephants going from Swaziland, Africa, to zoos in the United States.There was a debate over whether the animals should go to zoos, because it isn't their natural habitat. Mick, the man whom was in charge of the whole thing (with his father) thinks that the animals would be better off in zoos. The elephants ate too much and there wasn’t enough food. In other places the elephants would face the threat of poaching. So as a result, the animals were sent to zoos. Just eleven elephants.
Let me just say, that was one of the most interesting discussions that class 5-301 had ever had. We all had our own opinions, everyone was engaged, people were backing up their thinking, and we even got to share our own questions. A memorable one asked by one of our compassionate kids named Ethan was, “Do you think Mick did the right thing?” Even though that question was our homework, the discussion we had before that was the most interesting. One person stated that the elephants were making people starve, and it was good that they were going to zoos. That statement sparked a whole lot of others. After one person stopped talking, another stepped right up and agreed or disagreed. One response was that the situation wasn't created until after the world industrialized. Even though the revolution was good, and helped make people’s lives easier, we took it too far. Overpopulation and all this endangered business wasn't a problem before we industrialized, how come it’s happening now?
Katie quoted one of our science teachers. Many of us know that people are deciding the overpopulation and under population amounts, correct? Well, our science teacher said, “Who are we to decide how much or how little of each animal there should be?” This quote started a debate of “I agree” and “I disagree.” Half the class agreed with Katie, while the class disagreed. Many of us can see why! The “Disagreed” side said that if we don’t limit the amount of one certain animal, we are going to destroy the habitat. The story states, “There were too many elephants living in the Mkhaya and Hlane Game Reserves. They were ruining the land. Elephants eat for up to eighteen hours a day. When they eat they tear bark off trees and even knock trees down. Elephants had destroyed so many trees that a big part of the parks was now only black and dead trees.” Also, people said that the elephants will come stomping down the school if we don’t cut their population. The “agreed” side said that if they want to stomp on us, go ahead. We were the ones that started to move them out of their homes! We are not the people to decide how much or how little there should be of something. If the animals destroy the land, it is in their nature and instinct. People can’t just let nature be? Humans can’t keep helping nature! The birds’ instincts are to find another home. If they lose this instinct, their next generation will have no conscience to find another home and they will die out. So, we want to hear your opinion! Who do you think is right or wrong.
Also we had a debate if animals should be killed to keep the population down or should they be left alone until they die naturally. Now this is was a hard decision we had to make. Most of the class agreed what Mick did which was let them die naturally. But the other side had a good point because if you let them die naturally they would take a long time and by that time all the food would be gone. If Mick had killed them after a certain age then he would not have to send them to zoos and have a huge fight with the public. But the other side agreeing with Mick said that since we destroyed their habitat we have to give back to them because it is only fair to the animals. This really shows that are class is a humane friendly class because we care that the animals get the right care they need just like Mick does.