Are Zoos Educational?/Are Circuses Educational?

One of the major defense s of zoos not being pornographic is that they are educational. However, are they really educational? It was very interesting discussing this question. I believe that they are meant to be educational; although, most people visits zoos for an noneducational purpose.

I believe that zoos are meant to be educational due to the information zoos have about each of the animals at their exhibits. The plaques describe the animals, where the live, what the eat, etc. Although, people do not read them very often. Rather, they just stare at the animals as their entertainment and make their visits to the zoos have no educational value. However, when I went to zoos when I was younger, my dad insisted that I would read the plaques. Therefore, zoo visits had educational value for me.

I believe that zoos can have an educational value if people are willing to put the extra time to read the plaques instead of going from one exhibit to another. Personally, when I was a child, I learned a lot from the plaques I read. They helped me understand the animals more and made me realize what their lifestyles are outside the zoos. It depends on the person whether a zoo can be educational or not. If people take the zoos at face-value as a just a source of entertainment, they are not educational. However, if people are willing to search deeper for a more meaningful purpose when they go to the zoos, I believe the zoos do have a purpose.

On the other hand, are circuses educational? I believe they are not. Their main purpose is for entertainment. People cannot learn anything about the animals and their lifestyle at the circus. It is a place where animals are abused and used for purposes they should not be used for.

Overall, I believe that zoos are educational, but circuses are not. Zoos are meant for educational purposes while circuses are meant for entertainment purposes.