That sounds very interesting. Im glad to see children acting mature and being responsive in a positive way with the octopus. I wish high school kids would act the same...sadly, as people age...they get worse before they get better, lol. At least around here. But I hear the same comments all the time whenever im presenting any cephalopod-octopus related project or photo's. It's very annoying, and I just wish I could yell at them and tell them stop complaining or get out.
But, I recently saw...today this morning before the school bus arrived...a half hour documentary on the octopus called "Champs of the wild" on Animal Planet. I loved it, and it showed nothing but giant pacific octopuses near the shore at the coasts of Washington area. A man narrated the documentary who has been studying the octopus for 30 years consistently and has finally had the chance to show what he knew. Most of the facts were ordinary and basic...however, the footage they showed to express what he knew was lovely and I liked seeing the giant octopuses being handled by divers. They even showed a deceased female mother octopus being eaten by a huge starfish...unfortunately, the octopus was ripped to shreds. Looked very sad.
The octopus shares a simple lesson at least. Even though it's appearance is usually sickening, disgusting, horrific and deadly...not to mention slimy to the natural human reaction, there actually gentle, timid and harmless sea creatures full of fascination. Never judge a book by it's cover. Im dying to touch the octopus in my aquarium.