The Manchester Enterprise
A Heritage Newspaper
Weekly Publication
Students lobby legislature for state amphibian
Senate, House consider class's proposal to add spring peeper for state
By Ed Patino, Staff Writer
PUBLISHED: April 3, 2008
Rarely does a school field trip give students the chance to weigh in on state government issues. But for Klager Elementary teacher Ron Tindall's fourth grade class, that opportunity came with a visit to the Michigan state capitol March 5.
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The group traveled to Lansing to learn more about state government and lobby for officials to name the spring peeper the state amphibian.
"Michigan had state symbols like the bird and tree and have added more over the last 10 years," Tindall said. "They added a state reptile, but no state amphibian."
Michigan's state bird is the robin, while the tree is the white pine. The white-tailed deer is the state mammal and the brook trout is Michigan's state fish. The painted turtle was named the state reptile. Other state symbols include the apple blossom (state flower) and dwarf lake iris (state wildflower).
Last year, Tindall's fourth grade class made a presentation to State Rep. Pam Byrnes, D-Dist. 52, to name the spring peeper the state amphibian when she visited the school during National Reading Month. This year, the class was invited to a hearing with Byrnes and the Great Lakes Environmental Committee. The class apparently made some progress in getting the state amphibian passed, as the proposal was assigned a bill number (House Bill 4703).
According to Tindall, the bill will now go before the entire House of Representatives for a vote, then to the Senate for another vote. Should the bill pass both votes, Gov. Jennifer Granholm would sign it, making the spring peeper Michigan's state amphibian.
"If it passes, hopefully we can have the governor sign the bill here in Manchester," Tindall said.
The spring peeper was chosen by Tindall's class last year because it's an amphibian that lives throughout Michigan. It beat out the mud puppy, a salamander that is also common in the state.
"They are found everywhere in the state, especially around swamps and lakes," Emma Rybarsyk, a student in Tindall's class said.
Adult spring peepers grow to about 1 1/2 inches and have a life span of three years. Only males make the "peeping" sound — the amphibian's high-pitched call — while females lay up to 1,200 eggs. Peepers are identified by the dark brown X on their back and feed on spiders, mites, pill bugs, ants, ticks and caterpillars.
"You can hear them make the peeping sound during the spring and summer," student Tyler McTaggert said.
Classmate Ally Crouch also pointed out that the timing for Michigan to name a state amphibian couldn't be better.
"The Detroit Zoo made 2008 the Year of the Frog," she said.
Throughout the country, 13 states have amphibians as state symbols, while two others have state frogs.
Tindall's class also wanted the state officials to know the difference between amphibians and reptiles. Amphibians have a thin skin covering their body, while reptiles have scaly skin. Amphibians have a three-chambered heart and reproduce in water, whereas reptiles have four-chambered hearts and have an amniotic egg.
"In fourth grade we learn about Michigan's history and government," Tindall said. "State symbols are important because they teach citizens more about the environment of their state, they help each state feel more unique and they help citizens become more involved in the state's ecology issues."
The class was also able to meet Speaker of the House Craig DeRoche and received a tour of the state capitol.
"The only picture of Gerald Ford as president was taken there," student Nick Kurigin said.
Other students enjoyed seeing the rooms where Michigan government action takes place.
"We were able to watch the House of Representatives at work," Brooke DeWolfe said.
Tindall used to take both the third and fourth graders on the field trip, but stopped taking the third graders a few years ago. He said he is already planning for next year's trip.
"We'll take the class up to Lansing next September," Tindall said. "They'll get to see how government works."
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