It’s been a long time since most anyone has been in, but they are definitely surprised. Most do not recognize coral so ask if we have fish. If students are there to show and tell about the care jobs they do, parents get wide eyed and impressed by their kids. Everyone asks if open tops are a huge problem but can’t stop looking in from above. Everyone also shares a memory about having a little fish tank, visiting a public aquarium, or ocean visit experiences, which is a great example of why classroom tanks are important - gives young people way more experiences to carry through their lives. Visitor from one of Ballard’s deep sea exploration vessels Nautilus was super excited and wanted to get more schools having tanks.
Afternoon shift custodian spends his break and dinner time in front of a tank and has shown me videos of fish and coral activity I do not get to see during the day. Previous custodian was my bandsaw fragging buddy a couple times. Tech, plumbing and HVAC team people coming in to fix all the problems of the awesome looking but poorly made science building like coming in and checking stuff out and compare to old photos they took. Sometimes they have touched inverts, fed fish or viewed plankton with microscope.
Fire marshal is in a special category of visitor bc every year we have to take down more student work and posters (flammable paper), no hanging projects (trip hazard in earthquake), and I was threatened with having to take down big tank from only possible spot due to moving the fire extinguisher a few feet. Can’t imagine they like seeing saltwater and cords but strangely that never comes up even though I have never installed the cable raceway and clips I purchased. During school closure the contracted chemical hygiene inspectors dinged me for having salt mix, soda ash, calcium chloride, citric acid in unlocked cabinets. Also said the 2-part dosing jugs in my stand from BRS that say Mr. Chili’s Mixing Jug sound like they could be beverages, so got written up for that. ??? Shows how much $ is involved in those chem inspection and disposal contracts. But I digress.
To end on a positive note, the little daycare on the elementary campus near my room and afterschool city little league team young siblings used to come in for visits before COVID. One year we did joint wildlife projects with different grade levels next door by providing observation visits with my hedgehog (not a school/daytime pet), next door teacher’s rats, tarantulas and geckos, our insects, or a tank tour. We also have an intensive autism class on campus and when I don’t have a class they sometimes bring in a student or two to chill out with lights off and Kessil shimmer on. An afternoon visit with friends to explore the tanks, feed the animals and do some activities also brings in donations to school auction. Twice I have hosted an intro to saltwater tanks for school families but had only a couple attendees.
That is my long answer to your thoughtful question!