Pennridge High School’s teachers have started using Merlin the Bunny to help manage their classrooms. Having a sense of belonging plays a crucial role in the development of humans, and for many therapies, animals can spark this sense of belonging. This is true for many at Pennridge High School who interact with Merlin the Bunny. Since Covid, school attendance rates have dropped, and bad behavior among students has increased. This has left some teachers wondering whether to continue putting effort into their students’ behavior even when they are not receiving positive feedback.
For Carol Ressler, giving up on her students was not an option. Instead, she chose to implement a new classroom management system, and his name was Merlin. Ressler used Merlin the Bunny to teach her students how to take responsibility for something other than themselves and the importance of showing up for and supporting one another. Ressler then taught her students without being interrupted by negative behavior, which improved the overall classroom atmosphere. Sharon Fusco, the owner of Merlin, allows the students in her science classes to use Merlin as a positive distraction in stressful situations. Fusco’s students, along with many other students in Pennridge, use Merlin to melt their stress away. The positive feedback from Merlin goes beyond the average classroom. Merlin can help regulate students’ emotions in the life skills classroom and teach them how to work as a group to care for Merlin. Although Pennridge High School provides different types of education to many groups of students and staff, Merlin the Bunny provides emotional relief and a sense of belonging to everyone.
Sharon Fusco, a science teacher at Pennridge High School and Merlin’s owner, shared stories of him being a positive addition to the school atmosphere. Merlin not only helps students struggling with anxiety, stress, or simply having a rough day, but he can also completely transform the classroom atmosphere. More specifically, classrooms that struggle with discipline. An English teacher, Carol Ressler, recalled a class that struggled with behavior. “It was one of the first adjustment years after the pandemic, and the classroom atmosphere was off,” Ressler recalled. “Students often said things before fully thinking through the consequences.”
So, she borrowed Merlin for a day. Ressler was shocked to see the amazing transformation that Merlin caused in the classroom. “The students seemed to develop a sense of empathy for one another because Merlin was in the room,” she said. “They started to watch out for something other than themselves.” After witnessing the positive changes in her students’ behaviors, Ressler borrowed the bunny as much as possible. A bunny in the classroom creates a common goal and purpose for students who may have a hard time getting along with one another. It made teaching a lot easier for Ressler, and she believes that many other teachers, not just in Pennridge but also around the world, would benefit from having an animal “teaching assistant,” too.
Christine Fehnel, a life skills teacher at Pennridge High School, says students benefit positively from having a therapy animal in the classroom. Fehnel shared behavioral changes she observed and how the presence of Merlin affected the student’s overall emotional well-being. Fehnel notices her students’ reactions towards the therapy animal, stating, “In general, they seem calmer.” A bunny in the classroom can reduce anxiety and stress levels for teachers and students, and petting a bunny can have a calming effect on people, allowing them to have a soothing and relaxing sensation. Bunnies can foster emotional bonds between students, making it easier for students to express their feelings and improve their emotional intelligence.
Along with communication and bonds, caring for a bunny or any therapy animal teaches students caretaking responsibilities. While in the presence of Merlin, Fehnel explains that her students learn to act differently. Fehnel states, “Holding a smaller animal makes them calmer.” The students learn to care for the animal’s needs, including feeding, grooming, and providing attention. In effect, the students also tend to care more for their classmates. Therapy animals can be beneficial to students’ life skills by building relationships and social skills, increasing communication, and decreasing behavioral problems for students who can be disruptive.
Merlin or any therapy animal can be seen and used as a companion for life skills students. The animal can be used at any time for the students to relax or feel like they have a buddy with them to complete their school work. Many students make goals related to the care of the bunny, helping them learn about commitment and follow-through. Along with problems in school work, life skills students may experience issues with caring for the bunny, which can enhance critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
The school has considered new therapy animals, but that has yet to happen. The addition, however, could be beneficial for many students. Using the bunny helps students develop empathy and a sense of responsibility for each other, allowing them to focus in class. With a common purpose and goal, the kids developed a care for their academics. In other cases, he helps kids reduce stress or anxiety levels. However you look at it, therapy animals have many benefits and deserve more recognition.
