Animals can' t choose. Utterly at man's mercy they are forced to be there and forced to perform. Man degrades himself too when he exploits and dominates animals in this way. Children would miss seeing them. They see animals to much better advantage in TV programmes and films when they are behaving naturally in their own surroundings.
Children learn by example.
In today's violent world it is more necessary than ever for children to grow up with civilised standards based on kindness and consideration for others, including animals. Don't let us confuse them by on the one hand emphasising the need for wildlife protection and on the other condoning the abuse of animal life in the circus ring. It is civilised to teach children to care about animals. At least circus animals don't have to hunt for their food and are well looked after. There is no law governing the size of the traveling cages in which they are transported and kept.