Recently we were invited to consider the possible cruelty of catch and release fishing.  One of our school agreements is that we will have respect for the environment.  There is the possibility that fish experience the beginnings of suffocation as we struggle to unhook them.  The possibility exists that our handling of them interferes with their protective covering.  Do they feel pain from the barbed hook?  Rather than making a decision on this I presented the concern to our HIVE.  The HIVE is our democratic meeting where we discuss topics and try to come to consensus when action needs to be taken.  We are now three weeks into the process of this discussion.  The students have been challenged to find out the facts so we can make an informed decision.  It has helped us bring light to the difference between fact and opinion.  We are looking at unsubstantiated claims vs. factual information.  I love this process and what it asks of our children.  For now we have put fishing on hold during our Nature Literacy time.  Every time one door closes, others open, so there is a new interest in hanging out in the creek and playing with mud and sticks.  It also helps that we are using Nature Lit time to walk the goats in the woods.  Yesterday we learned that they like to race.  Who knew?

Maybelline, the donkey arrived at the Inside Outside School Saturday after a really fun game of "Chase and Trailer Tag."  She is very sweet, but still wary of the two leggeds.  Her goat friends showed up in high spirits on Monday afternoon.  Maybelline was a bit disappointed that they were so disorganized, but she tried to be hospitable.

Elsie, the apparent leader of the goats girls let Maybelline know that she would have to earn their respect.  Maybelline mentioned that she was planning to protect the goats from coyotes if the need arises, and it would not hurt them to work on their manners.  Elsie wanted to know how many coyotes Maybelline has actually ever chased off, but it was not something Maybelline wanted to discuss.

This morning the goats were playing "Queen of the Mountain."  Bella won this round.  Maybelline did not show any interest in the game, but she had just finished a dust bath and may have had other aspects of her beauty routine to attend to.  The chickens have front row seats to all the new activity.  What fun!