We've all heard the expression 'You're never too old to learn.' Well, I'm going to sit in on a couple of classes in the General McLane School District. The subject of those classes is a little different than the usual reading, writing, and arithmetic.

I'm joining some fifth grade students at Parker Middle School to learn a few things about dogs. Ardis Walsh and Rose Sarra are volunteers who bring their dogs to schools in the General McLane district twice a month. They first began to bring dogs into the schools about five years ago to comfort children after a student's death. They eventually decided to take the visits a step further. They wanted to teach about dogs.

"We started talking about what more we could do,” remembers Ardis, “I started talking to teachers and saying, 'How can we help you?"

The classes about dogs became very popular. This fifth grade class is called Future Focus. Students learn about various careers. Since some jobs involve the handling of dogs, these students are taking a quick lesson in dog training with a Labrador Retriever named Mishka.

'It is just so rewarding just to see the kids light up and how involved they are and how interested they are. It does make you feel like you are making a difference,” says Rose.

We now are in Mrs.Down's second grade class at Edinboro Elementary School accompanied by a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel named Tucker. Thanksgiving is coming and it's a great time to teach the kids what holiday food is good for dogs and what is not. Each student has a card with a food item pictured on it. They must decide if the food goes into Tucker's bowl or into the trash bag.

The classes are effective. Ardis says she was heartbroken several years ago when she heard that a child was bitten by a dog. She now teaches children about how to approach a dog. It seems every student in the General McLane School District now knows to first ask the owner before petting a dog. Ardis, a retired teacher, is still teaching.

"It is probably the most rewarding thing that I could ever imagine doing in retirement,” she says.

Teachers in the school district must sign-up to have the dogs visit their class. 10 dogs are regular visitors along with 6 volunteer handlers. The General McLane district also has two therapy dogs that are brought to school by staff members.