http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/education/newsid_1854000/1854261.stm
A teacher's plan to feed puppies to a snake in a science lesson has been halted after pupils became upset.
Matthew Patton keeps two boa constrictors in his classroom at Bluestem High School, near Wichita, Kansas.
And in science lessons he has shown the pupils how the snakes can devour rats.
But when a school board member gave the teacher three puppies from a local animal shelter, he planned to feed these to the snakes.
The unwanted puppies were destined to be put down, but the school board member had decided to give them to the teacher as snake food on the grounds that he "hates to see any life wasted".
But the plan sparked complaints from parents and tears from children, who were unhappy at the prospect of watching the snakes eating the puppies.
In response Mr Patton agreed to scrap the planned lesson - and is not expected to face any disciplinary actions as a result.
Head teacher Dale Harper commented that "very few people have a problem with seeing a rat go" but he acknowledged "the sensitivity of some people when it involved what's considered a pet".
"When you have soft, cuddly puppies there are people who get real concerned," said Mr Harper.
There are now plans to find homes for the three puppies.
A teacher's plan to feed puppies to a snake in a science lesson has been halted after pupils became upset.
Matthew Patton keeps two boa constrictors in his classroom at Bluestem High School, near Wichita, Kansas.
And in science lessons he has shown the pupils how the snakes can devour rats.
But when a school board member gave the teacher three puppies from a local animal shelter, he planned to feed these to the snakes.
The unwanted puppies were destined to be put down, but the school board member had decided to give them to the teacher as snake food on the grounds that he "hates to see any life wasted".
But the plan sparked complaints from parents and tears from children, who were unhappy at the prospect of watching the snakes eating the puppies.
In response Mr Patton agreed to scrap the planned lesson - and is not expected to face any disciplinary actions as a result.
Head teacher Dale Harper commented that "very few people have a problem with seeing a rat go" but he acknowledged "the sensitivity of some people when it involved what's considered a pet".
"When you have soft, cuddly puppies there are people who get real concerned," said Mr Harper.
There are now plans to find homes for the three puppies.