If there was a serious problem, the canaries would stop singing and die, and the miners would get themselves out of danger.
Canaries are beautiful, fragile animals that represent the best of what nature has to offer.
That they were chosen for such an important but hazardous task is, at the very least, interesting. The miners had decided that human beings are more important than canaries. Thus, the protection of human workers justified the sacrifice of canaries. It seems, however, that unconsciously or unintentionally we have chosen a new warning sign for danger. I would like to thank Edie Miller, Vermont School Boards Association, and Jeff Francis, Vermont Superintendents Association, for their overall guidance with this project.