SCHOOL'S OUT FOR SOME VIRTUAL PETS

Virtual pets are popular with schoolchildren, but they can be a major distraction in the classroom.

Like some other schools nationwide, St. Mary Cathedral Grade School in Cape Girardeau has banned virtual pets from the classroom.

"We just did that at the start of school because we figured it was going to be a terrific distraction because all the kids had them," said Carol Strattman, school principal.

Strattman has a daughter who is in eighth grade at the school. Strattman said her daughter has a virtual dog, but doesn't bring it to school.

The students have found ways to enjoy their pets without breaking school rules.

Some students just play with their pets on the weekends. During the week, they leave the interactive, liquid crystal toys on the reset mode.

Students press the reset button, but don't resurrect their pet until the weekend, Strattman said.

Some students just let the pets' "health and happiness" scores go down during the school day. At night, the students feed their virtual pets and play with them, which revives their health, Strattman said.

The Cape Girardeau public schools haven't barred students from bringing virtual pets to class.

But teachers have confiscated the devices in cases where they were distractions, said Mark Cook, assistant principal at Alma Schrader Elementary School.

Alma Schrader sixth-graders Emily Morse, Keely Lossing and Taylor Smith enjoy playing with their virtual pets. All three girls take their virtual pets to school.

Morse and Smith have aliens as pets. Lossing carries two pets with her -- a dinosaur and a panda.

Morse said she feeds "cheeseburgers and cake" to her alien.

Smith said the virtual aliens change into other animals at times. Her pet alien recently turned into a duck.

Smith said her pet can't get along without her. "I've left it at home and it almost died," she said.

Morse and Smith said 24 hours equals one year in virtual pet time.

Virtual pets continue to sell well locally.

Kentucky Fried Chicken recently had a promotion where it sold virtual pets for $5.99 with the purchase of a meal. The restaurant chain offered four different virtual pets -- two dogs and two cats.

The Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant in Cape Girardeau sold its entire stock of virtual pets, numbering about 100, within 1 1/2 weeks.

"They went over pretty big," said Justin Weaver, assistant manager of the local fast-food restaurant.

There has been a demand for the virtual pets at area stores too.

"They were really hot around August and September, and they pretty well stayed hot through Thanksgiving," said Mike McKinney, assistant team leader for the local Target Store.

McKinney said the gadgets are still selling well. "They make good stocking stuffers," he said.