Bearly Educated

School officials in Ashton, Idaho are having problems with a new potential student. He keeps scaring the other kids at the Ashton Elementary School. It seems black bears make them nervous.

ASHTON – When the Idaho Fish and Game Department said bears were plentiful in and out of towns lately, it was not exaggerating.

A black bear wandered onto the Ashton Elementary School grounds Wednesday about lunch time.

The bear, a cub weighing about 30 pounds, caused mostly curiosity.

According to Principal Jaci Hill, a couple of students spotted the bear on the northeast corner of the school grounds during lunch recess.

The students went inside the school and told the secretary about what they had seen.

An announcement was made for the teachers to get the students inside, Hill said.

"All the children came in fairly orderly with just a little pandemonium," she said.  

An Ashton police officer was called, and he chased the cub out of town, Hill said.

Representatives from the ACLU immediately served notice that they would sue the Ashton school district for discriminating against bears.

“There is no question that this young cub's rights have been violated,” said Byron B. Badger, Legal Director of the ACLU Animal Uprising™ Support Project. “School officials and the Ashton police deprived him of his basic rights to an education and caused him deep humiliation as well. We intend to sue the pants off these people. In fact, we may just go after the pants next. Since bears don't have any apparel, it is discriminatory for humans to wear any. And just wait until you see what we have planned for Christmas this year, pal.”

The bear was unavailable for comment.