Thoughts;
1. Kids will be responsible, if taught responsible behavior. I have 3 children that are now adults, and responsible at that, it takes some work on the parent’s part. Ever hear of 4H? Try google on that one, and learn how responsible these kids are that just “want something to occupy class time to get them to get out of actual work.†Good teachers, just like good parents, inspire children to do better.
The majority of kids do not participate in 4h, I know 1 person in 4H in my entire life, and by some its considered very nerdy. Sure some kids are responsible and have a love for animals, those people in 4h. However 98% of highschool students would rather spend their time on something else rather than figuring out proper fish care, they are distractions nothing more. Just like when I was in HS Bio there was a bug brought in from a pond and I watched it swimming around all class, that or slept.., not to mention even though yes the teacher can "inspire" the kids to do better, most still won't give 2 craps about how the fish are. That is promised.
2. Fish keeping isn’t a requirement for teaching, but “he left them at the school for the summer†sounds like it is something the teacher should/could have been responsible for. This does not sound like a teacher who inspires to me.
Left them at school, so? He might have been able to. What if said teacher lives in an apartment where he can't keep the fish at home? And was doing another job and wasn't able to find time to make daily trips to the school to do the fish maitence that many here suggest, he may have lived far away. Don't jump on the teacher without knowing the circumstances?
3. He taught one student, a member of this forum, that he thinks it is ok to leave fish unattended for a few months. He just taught that neglect of a living thing, that was apparently cared for several months preceding this, is ok.
K so maybe he does think its ok to leave them unattended? He taught 1 die hard fish lover. I bet in the majority of class rooms there is no one who is a die hard fish person and I bet in most classrooms the kids would want to flush the fish or kill it rather than provide care...
4. I did not say it is a public school, I said it sounds like one. Big difference there. My kids have attended public, as well as private schools. The public schools have a bigger budget, better teacher salaries, with teachers who care less about education. The private schools have less funding, smaller salaries, with more dedicated teachers. I’ve dealt with both, this is the difference.
You assumed it was a public highschool from " sounds like ". Its still a put down as you assume chances are its a public highschool.
5. If you think I haven’t called schools my kids have attended over many years you are mistaken. If I, or any of the other parents I know of got a response like that we would be taking a drive over. I, as well as others, have done this, it’s called responsible parenting, and getting involved in your children’s education, as well as the community.
Yes, and the majority of the "coummunity" will laugh at you for giving a crap about these fish. Lol take a drive I bet money nothing good is done. Calling school and driving over to have a meeting for a couple fish to most (including me on this one) is simply laughable.
6. Schools have bigger things than drinking to worry about, as well as smaller things than the negligence of animals kept on their premises. Everything from policy & procedure to board meeting minutes to projected budget are documents that the public has access to. They don’t know if the person reading any of these documents is Joe the barber, accountant, attorney, or peta activist. They have to be accountable for everything, and know it, this includes tanks with dead fish.
Again most wouldn't care about a fish. A gerbil dieing of neglect yes, but a few 3$ fish no one cares.
7. Ever been to a school board meeting? Everything from multi-million dollar budgets to frayed drapes in the teacher’s lounge is covered, at one time or another. If it is brought up, it will be addressed.
People care about frayed teachers lounge drapes maybe? Bring it up and I personally would laugh. Your going on 1 students word against a teachers. Teacher will win 98% of the time. Plus there could be good reasons for dirty water and lack of feeding, not to mention not everyone agrees with this forums rules for keeping fish. Even though I keep fish I do not agree with 90% of the fish keeping "rules" or "standards" used on this forum, doesn't mean I neglect my fish. A common person most likely won't see it as neglect.
8. They want to change policy when it is a small problem, to prevent the small problem from becoming a bigger problem. They actually appreciate when a small problem is brought to their attention. In car terms they would rather change the oil now than replace the engine later. Any successful organization I know of operates in this manner.
Yes because 2 fish living in "bad" conditions will eventually explode into a big problem? What is the worst that could happen? Another teacher gets fish for their class room? Really what are the odds of many teachers starting to keep fish in their class room? Then add in the odds of them all being bad keepers. Then add in the odds of them agreeing with this forum's standards for proper fish care...
. The fish were all brought in by students for extra credit and I know the 1st year there were about 60 fish in it. I tired my best to take care of the tanks but it was very hard to find enough time to do a decent water change on either of the 180gal. I even offered to take care of them during the summer but she turned me down, only to come back to school 3 months later too find out she hadn't touched anything, and all my hard work had been for nothing. Though I did save a few fish one year and took them to a trusted petstore and released a very emaciated yellow perch back into the lake 
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