Wednesday, June 11, 2008
What injustice is being done to today's "trainers" with old statements like this to reference?
Posted by
Wade G. Burck
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A Blog designed for discussion of topics related to, but not limited to, Circus, Zoos, Animal Training, and Animal Welfare/Husbandry. Sometimes opening up the dialog is the best starting point of all. And if for nothing else when people who agree and don't agree, get together and start discussing it, it will open up a lot of peoples minds. Debate and discussion even amongst themselves opens a window where there wasn't one before.
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5 comments:
Wade, at the risk of starting a riot, part of this sounds like the Beatty baloney hype. "The eye of a courageous man exerts a wonderful influence upon a lion; he cowers under the commanding look." LOL
Mary Ann
Mary Ann,
Riots are alright as long as they serve a useful purpose. I have long contended that by holding up the "old days" and the trainers/animal handlers as a shining example, or a standard if you will, we have done a great disservice to the modern trainers in the circus and the vastly advanced skills. To use them as anything more then examples of that advancement is wrong.
The purpose of collecting old zoo pictures and literature is not to show zoos in a bad light, or to illustrate how much better they were. The purpose is to illustrate what it was, and how much the field has advanced because of education and learning it could be done better/different.
Wade
Wade, that is an excellent point, and it is probably true not only in zoos and circuses, but in almost any profession. Should computer programmers go back to punch cards, or teachers to the one-room schoolhouse?
Mary Ann
Not entered on another blog was the answer to your question as to whether or not I was holding Exotic Animal Training and Management at Moorpark Community College as a standard. The answer is no not a standard but a start at the recognition that animal behavior and management warrants some formal study. That is an advancement. Now, if we could stop calling women trainers/presenters/handlers "girls" that would be a breakthrough. OK, light the flaming arrows.
Adaline
Adaline,
It is a good point, but what they do at Moorpark is akin to cleaning cages as a means of learning animal behavior. They come out with their "degree" thinking they are more qualified then they are, or with a very limited knowledge given the philosophy of the teaching.
I have never heard trainers/presenters/handlers of the opposite sex referred to as "girls". The notation of "female" is always added, for a reason, and heres where the arrows may start. But it is a profile some have done to the profession. Female trainer denotes special considerations. As noted on the same blog that censored you, many months ago. I can reference 2 or 3 in modern times that have truly done on their own, with out the help of a "friend", or additional assistance of the show they are appearing with. Whether it is somebody to drive the truck, or to help with loading and unloading. The circus is a sexist world right or wrong, and male trainers are not given the considerations that female trainers are.
Because of this not as much is expected from a female trainer, although some have excelled without a "friend" on every show, Some have used "cute and charming" to full advantage, which has reflected badly on the good ones with talent and the necessary skills, female or male. An unfortunate fact, that has been taken great advantage of by some.
Wade
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