Posted on 09/14/2009 12:14:20 PM PDT by ShadowAce
LONDON (Reuters) - A group of schoolchildren who reared a lamb from birth and named it Marcus has overridden objections by parents and rights activists and voted to send the animal to slaughter.
Marcus the six-month-old lamb has now been culled, the head teacher of the primary school in Kent confirmed on Monday, after the school's council -- a 14-member group of children aged 6 to 11 -- voted 13-1 to have him killed.
The decision has provoked fury among animal-loving celebrities, animal and human rights campaigners and the parents of some of the children, and led to threats against Lydd primary school and its teachers, according to a member of staff.
Around 250 children at the school take part in a program designed to teach them about rearing and breeding animals.
The educational farm was started this year, with Marcus being hand-fed by the children. The children also look after ducks, chickens, rabbits and guinea pigs.
The intention had been to buy pigs with the money raised from slaughtering Marcus, but those plans have been put on hold following the furor created by the lamb's culling. The school said the program may now have to be stopped.
"It's all up in the air," said a member of staff. "There's been so much pressure on us as a result of all this."
Despite that, the school said there had been overwhelming support among the children, the staff and most of the parents to have Marcus -- a castrated male who could not have been used for breeding -- sent to the slaughterhouse.
But opponents branded it heartless and cruel, with animal rights campaigners asking why Marcus could not have been used to teach the children about wool, and human rights campaigners worried about the emotional impact of Marcus's death on...
(Excerpt) Read more at reuters.com ...
Mmmm. Lamb. Good stuff.
}:-)4
Seems the kids had more sense than the parents.
Little Lamb who made thee?
Dost thou know who made thee?
Somebody explained the circle of life to these kids, well done!
Really? wonder how many were muzzies
Vegans consider all animal products (even bee honey) to be "exploitation" of animals.
They would move the football downfield and complain about the gathering of wool next.
In Scotland they could have kept him around to teach sex ed.
I prefer my lamb a bit rare!
Mary had a little lamb
She ate it with mint jelly
and everywhere that Mary went
the lamb went in her belly
Love Lamb Chops - Leg of lamb, etc...
If all the high-falutin ones don’t want to kill the animals that were bred by the school kids-—
Have the kids breed purebred dogs next time.
Then the puppys and the kids can share Marcus’ BBQ ribs. (Before the puppies are placed in new homes) Tasty -
No, Marcus was castrated while still a kid.
Reminds me of a true story...
I knew a girl that had a calf when she and her brother were young. They named it “Cuddles”. Plenty of wailing and crying when dad had Cuddles slaughtered. He got them a new calf, but he took over the naming duties: “Mr. Steak”.
ping
only 2 mountain oysters - Not even a decent hors d’ourve
Across the pond the term “rare” is unknown I do believe.
Put a nice rare steak in front of me with a bit of garlic salt and I’m a happy camper.
HOLLY: Everybody like mutton?
JERRY: Um, mutton! Hope you didn’t cut the fat off.
Wouldn’t stop a Scot.
Spoken like a true drunken Irishman.
LOL, our neighbor names his cow T-Bone for the very same reason.
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