h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Ok here is the report of the exciting event that happened yesterday! It was quite a satisfying 'wildlife encounter' to be exact. My father caught a big puff adder at the school where he works! He brought it home in a bucket, and he and I then set off to the Meropa Entertainment World, where they have a snake park. The people took it off our hands, and I took pictures of it, first in the bucket, and then when we released it and the snake handler coaxed it into a glass-fronted box, where it seemed content to stay!

The whole story in much greater detail, and with pictures, is told here:

http://community.webshots.com/album/562799485TwynGA?start=36

Start with the picture 'Puff Adder 1' and go on slideshow-fashion from there, to the last picture which is 'Puff Adder 11'

But please read the story written in words below the pictures as well!

Nice pic's Willem , nice story too

The photos were lovely, but the story was very interesting. I hope the children learnt a little about how to treat wildlife, even dangerous species.

Websailor

Hi moonraker and websailor! Glad you liked the photos and the story.

I don't know if the children learnt anything. I hope they did. I can't say though. I think most kids these days have minds that are totally scrambled; I'm not sure they're capable of learning *anything*. I'd be happy to be wrong, though.

Willem,

I have spent twenty years working with kids, and I am convinced they are mostly good 'uns, we just hear about the rubbish ones. Good news doesn't make headlines or sell newspapers, and TV programmes (here at least) seem to revelling in showing the worst of the juvenile species.

The ones I have worked with have been brilliant. They just need motivating.

Websailor

Hello Websailor! I don't think the kids are 'rubbish', I simply think their minds are scrambled ... which is mostly no fault of *theirs*. They are simply growing up in a society of total chaos and with pretty much no adult guidance. I'm speaking of South African society here, remember, and things are very, very dismal right now on the youth and education front over here. My parents are both teachers at that school, have been for some years now, and they tell totally horriffic stories. They seem to be fighting a losing battle. The kids are not bad, but the 'system' is simply letting them down. What many people don't realise is that our country went through a massive systemic crisis that affected people on so many levels, causing so many problems ... obvious ones as well as subtle ones. Our children are the most vulnerable to the negative effects. The only hope for them is a massive co-ordinated effort between parents, teachers, the leaders of the country, and society in general. But 'society in general' is unfortunately totally clueless; the leaders are corrupt; the teachers are totally overburdened; and the parents have too many problems of their own.

But anyways, maybe the kids at the school did learn something. One can always hope!

I'm sure they did Willem. It may take a while for the seeds to germinate, but such things come back to mind in later life, so such lessons are rarely wasted.

We have major problems here too, with our leaders, and schools. Not as bad, perhaps, as it is in SA but bad enough to have teachers leaving the profession in droves, mostly the good ones too, more's the pity. Our problems are entirely different, but very serious nonetheless.

I am waiting for 'society in general' to wake up to what's happening, but like your country everyone is too wrapped up in their own problems.

Oh, and 'some' of our kids are rubbish - I despair sometimes, but as you say there is always hope, and we have to hang on to that.

Websailor

Hi again! I don't know if I'll ever have kids but if I do, I will try to teach them:

- Respect for themselves;
- Respect for other people;
- Respect for all living things;

And try to set and example of that to them!

Puff Adders, blimey, they are a bit dodgy aren't they? Think I will stick to harmless Grass Snakes!

Websailor

I agree about kids just needing the opportunity and motivation.
also your statement to Willem.

"I'm sure they did Willem. It may take a while for the seeds to germinate, but such things come back to mind in later life, so such lessons are rarely wasted"

*************
It has been my experience with others and myself.
These times are is a big influence in how we learn over time.Cement concepts, not all is instantly taken in to be used.To have an adults take the time and interest in you by introducing something new is very memorable.

I am always tickled when I retrieve a moment like that in chilhood only to realize over the years I have continued the interest on some level.

I am glad you agree Abbi. I often think adults don't realise the influence they have if they only used it well.

Hope you are keeping well these days. It is nice to see you back here.



Websailor