Koda Naoko, Kutsumi Shiho, Hirose Toshiya, Watanabe Gen
Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Fuchu , Tokyo , Japan.
Nara University of Education, Nara , Nara , Japan.
Front Vet Sci. 2016 Dec 26;3:118. doi: 10.3389/fvets.2016.00118. eCollection 2016.
Many Japanese elementary schools keep small animals for educational purposes, and the effects and challenges have been investigated. Although goats are medium-sized animals that are familiar to Japanese, few practical studies have been conducted on keeping goats in schools. This study investigated the effects and challenges of keeping goats in elementary schools and discussed its educational possibilities. A semi-structured interview survey was conducted with 11 personnel that were responsible for keeping goats in 6 elementary schools in urban areas. They described benefits, problems, and tips related to keeping goats. Participant observation was also conducted on daily human-goat interactions in these schools. The results indicated that children in all six grades were able to care for goats. Goats were used for various school subjects and activities. As a result of keeping goats, children developed affection for them, attitude of respect for living things, greater sense of responsibility, and enhanced interpersonal interactional skills. Stronger ties between the schools and parents and community were developed through cooperation in goat-keeping. Some anxieties existed about the risk of injury to children when interacting with goats. Other challenges included the burden of taking care of the goats on holidays and insufficient knowledge about treatment in case of their illness or injury. The results suggested similarities to the benefits and challenges associated with keeping small animals in elementary schools, although the responsibility and the burden on the schools were greater for keeping goats than small animals because of their larger size and the need for children to consider the goats' inner state and to cooperate with others when providing care. At the same time, goats greatly stimulated interest, cooperation, and empathy in children. Goats can expand educational opportunities and bring about many positive effects on child development.
许多日本小学出于教育目的饲养小动物，并且已经对其效果和挑战进行了调查。虽然山羊是日本常见的中型动物，但关于在学校饲养山羊的实践研究却很少。本研究调查了在小学饲养山羊的效果和挑战，并探讨了其教育可能性。对市区6所小学中负责饲养山羊的11名人员进行了半结构化访谈调查。他们描述了与饲养山羊相关的益处、问题和小贴士。还对这些学校中人与山羊的日常互动进行了参与观察。结果表明，所有六个年级的孩子都能够照顾山羊。山羊被用于各种学校科目和活动。通过饲养山羊，孩子们对山羊产生了喜爱之情，培养了对生物的尊重态度、更强的责任感以及增强了人际互动技能。通过在山羊饲养方面的合作，学校与家长和社区之间建立了更紧密的联系。在与山羊互动时，存在对儿童受伤风险的一些担忧。其他挑战包括节假日照顾山羊的负担以及在山羊生病或受伤时治疗知识不足。结果表明，与在小学饲养小动物相关联的益处和挑战存在相似之处，尽管由于山羊体型较大，且孩子们在照顾山羊时需要考虑其内心状态并与他人合作，学校饲养山羊的责任和负担比饲养小动物更大。与此同时，山羊极大地激发了孩子们的兴趣、合作精神和同理心。山羊可以扩大教育机会，并给儿童发展带来许多积极影响。
