Portland schools weigh classroom-pet policy after concerns about dogs

Education · First reported 31 Oct, 19:00 · Updated 19:10

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Portland Public Schools is considering changes to its classroom-pet policy after a teacher asked to foster puppies at Ocean Avenue Elementary. At an Oct. 14 committee meeting, administrator Abdullahi Ahmed raised religious concerns about dogs and discussed possible accommodations; the committee did not vote.

A teacher at Ocean Avenue Elementary sought permission to foster puppies for students to interact with during reading and playtime.
At an Oct. 14 policy committee meeting, Assistant Superintendent Abdullahi Ahmed said some Islamic traditions consider dog saliva impure and that local religious leaders he consulted opposed dogs as classroom pets.
The committee discussed whether a revised policy should cover dogs or other animals and possible opt-in or opt-out arrangements, but did not vote.

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Key facts

School district: Portland Public Schools in Portland, Maine
School involved: Ocean Avenue Elementary School
Meeting date: Oct. 14
Administrator: Dr. Abdullahi Ahmed, assistant superintendent for student, family and community partnerships
Committee outcome: No policy vote was taken at the Oct. 14 meeting.