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This headmistress displays a sadistic attitude to those children who are deeply upset by this decision, having been involved in hand rearing the lamb. I do not consider her fit to teach because of this. The lamb has been nurtured by humans and taught they are loving creatures, not predators, he is a pet, and this is the same as suggesting the slaughter of a school guinea pig or hamster to teach the children animals die.

I have 2 daughters that go to Lydd Primary and they have been aware, along with all the other children, that they would raise the lamb and then send it to market / slaughter in September. The decision for this was made in June. It is only a small minority of the parents and children at the school that oppose.

There are many ways to teach children where food comes from without them having to raise and kill an animal.

This is not an inner city school, we are surrounded by sheep, all previous pupils over the years at Lydd know where meat comes from without raising a sheep for slaughter.

The Headmistress asked them to vote to make a decision on the sheep's future before they had learnt what it entails.

Could the headmistress say how she learnt where meat came from?

Is this just a piece of self indulgence and attention seeking by the headmistress?

Where does it end, is she going to keep a cow to know where milk comes from?

Learning about commercialism is fine for children, but sending a pet animal to the abbattoir is not the way to go! Not only are you Mrs Charmon, leaving some of the more sensitive children open to being traumatised and likely vegetarians, I suggest you are also leaving yourself open to being sued by the parents of those children! In the interests of the sheep, the children and commercialism, I am offering to buy Marcus the sheep for £500 and to keep him with my other rescued sheep to the end of his natural days. Just because something, i.e. eating meat is conducted as a normal part of society, does not mean it is necessarily right and forcing such practice is not encouraging children to question society or to learn. Although the small group of children voted to have Marcus turned into meat, it is a well known fact that the nature of group thinking encourages people to conform and to take the riskier and wrong decisions! Help the children in your school to learn about questioning society and learning to have control. Please accept my offer and encourage true education!

It seems that the reality is we are all sheep blindly following our so called "LEADERS".

My suggestion is could it be are society is being

subverted.l believe it is.Before thinking it is all

in my mind.How about doing a little research?

Try googling Brian Gerrish.

Is the head a teacher or a farmer. Why on earth is this woman allowing young children to decide on life and death. Whether sheep or other, it is most important in todays violent society to teach children to preserve life. We must also remember that the killers of James Bulger started killing animals before they killed James. This head teacher is wrong.

I take it that those who are opposed to the slaughter of this animal choose not to eat in Macdonalds and are in fact vegetarian?

Or maybe they are a tad sentimental and consider the realities of life, death and where food comes from as rather, erm.........embarrassing.

These children are at school not in a farm - the sheep is their pet. If the head teacher changes the decision to slaughter the sheep, she shows compassion not weakness. Come on Mrs Charmon admit you're wrong in this case!

What about teaching the children compassion and love.

Has this head ever been into a slaughterhouse - to smell the fear of these poor creatures and if this odious act is carried out I'd like to remind the people who win this grizzly raffle that they,ll be eating a slab of fear.

The root of this problem lies at how the sheep was being raised. Marcus was being reared like a pet would be, not as stock are.

Yes, I find this business with the sheep, disturbing and inappropriate for a primary school 'projest' but I am a vegan and I find the whole business of eating meat wrong.

What I want to know is, just how many of you people bleating about this (yes, pun intended) are yourselves vegetarian at least? Or are you all the hypocritical types who say what a disgrace this is but then go on to have lamb for Sunday lunch?

"Ms" Charman is of course quite right: we should all be eating our pets. How about some roast puppy for lunch this Sunday? We mustn't protect our children from Reality, must we?

[Incidentally, what are "Ms" Charman's educational qualifications -- especially those that testify to her capabilities to teach Ethics to children aged from 7 to 14?]

Marcus was once a male. But he was chopped and then petted; then slaughtered (as an ethical lesson in reality) and now, finally, his meat is being sold at a local butcher's shop. Children should indeed not be shielded from some realities. "Ms" Charman and her approving staff are choosing the right course.

I do hope the head loses her job over this, I cannot understand how KCC did not step in, or is this why she cowardly had the lamb killed before it was due to be , just so no one coulsd stop her.I feel her and her representatives including the children who supposedly voted for him to be killed should have gone and watched the whole sordid process, they might have nightmares for life then and serves them right!

Marcus was brought up as a pet, not living a farm animals life in a field without much human contact. The woman should be sacked and the school barred from keeping animals. Marcus it appears was kept in a pen and fussed, its a total disgrace.

Dear Ed,

I find the magnitude of the fuss made over the slaughter of Marcus somewhat remarkable. I was wondering, how many of these correspondents, that have had their personal feathers severely ruffled, protest when they go and buy cheap clothes made in the sweatshops of Asia, or expensive cosmetics that have been thoroughly tested on animals who undergo suffering so that the sun cream doesn't bring darling Johnny out in a rash?

Don't worry, the questions are rhetorical.

Yours,

Lazarus

The decision to slaughter a sheep kept as a pet defies all normal logic. The Head teacher would appear to be expounding some bizarre theory of educational reality by apparently insisting on this action to slaughter an animal the children had bonded with. Her actions which it is claimed the children "voted" for are regrettable and living in an agricultural environment should render such reality excercises redundant as the children will be well aware of the source of food without having it shoved in their young faces. This lady needs educating herself or sacking because her continued teaching methods might well cause irrepairable damage to impressionable minds and cause them to need counselling at the very least or become desensitised to abuses in later life.

Whether or not slaughter and eating meat is right or wrong that isnt really the issue here. The main issue is the values being taught to these children about what an animals life means and quite clearly this school is teaching these children that animals are commodities that people can kill at any given moment. These children are to young to understand the difference between a sheep and a household pet, to them an animal is an animal! desensitising these children in this manner is surely asking for trouble. I do not understand why this school feels it is their job to teach children that animals are here for our consumption and profit rather than our companions or friends! What shocks me more is some of the parents also seem to agree with this, if my child were at this school I would never have allowed this!!!!

Ms Charman should be sacked and examined by a psychiatrist. For goodness sake woman, children do gradually become aware as they get older that animals are killed for food - you don't need to shove it in their face. If it's true that Marcus was as much a pet as a farm animal then frankly I think you must be sick in the head. Eating meat or being vegetarian is a choice to be made by informed adults, and for children it is the choice of informed parents. It isn't your job to "educate" children in this way. Like most teachers, I expect you believe you live in the real world - sadly, like many teachers you don't, you live in a fantasy world where somebody has unwisely invested you with too much power.

You should hang your head in shame.

Just in case Lazurus is not the gentleman who featured in the Biblical story I would remind him the forum is currently about the death of a pet sheep who is unlikely to be ressurected whole and the potential effect on impressionable minds! Our views on animal testing which I, both as a one time educationalist and lab worker find abhorent, are not relevant to the discussion. Likewise the Asian sweatshops that have taken over from western ones are to be deplored but even your designer goodies are made in some cases quite probably at the same time as the "fake" designer goodies in these same sweat shops! Therefore I don't see the point of your comments however if you are intending to deminish the sensible comments made by the majority of contributors then you are just demonstrating along with Tony's sarcasm about Mcdonalds eaters, your lack of understanding of the potential serious future problems for the children with regard to say becoming traumatised now or in the future. Potentially becoming animal or human abusers down the line or suffering mental problems in the future. Children apart I wonder if Kent County Council, The Schools Governing Body or the Headteacher have adequate insurance for any future mental health related claim of the type that is becoming increasingly common in our letigious society. It has crossed my mind that having a farm on school premises in an agricultural area is a tad strange and OTT unless this is some sort of move to make the children of farmers feel included as we keep being told by various quangos that we must all be inclusive. Perhaps the carpark has instead of the usual Fiestas Golfs. Clios and the like, the odd John Deere, New Holland or Claas etc! Suddenly I have this mental picture of Ms Charman atop a tractor with extra wide wheels and foreloader with bale handling spikes, hitting the car park of the local supermarket, flying the old Kent Flying Horse banner and shouting reality!reality, my Kingdom for reality! In the words of that notorious tennis star "You cannot be serious". Just maybe she models herself on the Lincolnshire grocers daughter and her famous phrase "This lady's not for turning!" Whatever her Warholian fifteen minutes of fame will doubtless come to haunt her along with the spirit of Marcus. May his soul rest in eternal peace through our Lord Jesus Christ, Amen!

I thought that children went to school to get an education. What exactly is this teaching them and how is it going to benefit any of them in later life? Andrea Chapman is a disgrace to her profession and shouldn't be allowed anywhere near children again.

Ms Charman was well aware that many of the children and parents were distressed by the prospect of Marcus being sent on to slaughter, and although I think it is important for children to know animals have to die for them to eat meat, I think the actual slaughter in the face of so much public concern, and the children left sleepless worrying, was a lesson way too far. I knew at the same age where meat came from, without having blood on my hands, and many of these poor kids will be feeling awful they could not do anything to save this sheep. This woman has gone way too far and it seems to me that her ignorance towards the children she knew to be suffering with this decision, and the public outcry to save this sheep, goes to show this is her little egotisical empire that she rules without compassion. Sorry, but no child of mine would be left in this school with such a heartless self obssessed woman at the healm. I think she should resign. Compassion is a virtue that she neglected to show towards those children left upset by this basically unecessarry act of callous contempt.Disguisting, shameful, and unacceptable.

Typical British Scapegoating. Ms Charman left it to a VOTE of the parents. Why do people ignore this?

If Ms Charman is to blame , then whatabout the majority of parents and children who voted to have the sheep slaughtered. They had the choice to vote NO.

I would vote NO , but it seems the majority voted YES. What does this say about this community? Or should we ignore the fact that the majority of the community wanted this sheep slaughtered and just scapegoat ONE person who was merely following the decision of this community.

Oh my god...I cannot believe what you people are saying. Do you all live in the real world or hide behind a curtain of ignorance? You have no reference point to see how well Ms Charman is going in that school because you know no better than what's just in front of your nose. That school had so many more problems before she came there and now you ridicule her and her reputation? It's an animal. A sheep that from the beginning was to be slaughtered. A vote was taken and carried out by the school but yet you attack Ms Charman. This is the problem with your English society these days. Sending a student to therapy? wake up.

If the school wishes to inform children of the reality of meat rearing, then why wasn't the animal slaughtered in front of the children ? Why take him to a 'secret location' to be killed ?

If slaughterhouses had glass walls, there'd be far more vegetarians and vegans in the world!

All you parents that condone this cruelty - teachers and parents and children should be made to visit the slaughterhouses, and be present to view Marcus and other animals actually being slaughtered. This would quickly change your minds and probably mess up your children. Here is your reality.

I think you should not let the children get so close to the animals on the farm is you are just going to take them away to be killed. It is like killing someones pet! This head teacher should think about what she is doing to her pupils.

8 Months ago I paid a fortune for a 6 week old lamb which had been hand reared after being orphaned on a farm next to where I live. The farmer was rearing him to go to slaughter with the other lambs later but he was such a gorgeous wee guy I couldnt let it happen and bought him for a pet. He was like a walking , talking (baa'ing) cuddly teddy and I loved him with all my heart. I had never been interested in animals but he brought something very special into my life. I had no idea that sheep were so clever and I dont think many people understand at all. Sadly, he died a couple of weeks ago after becoming ill and the vet had to euthaanase him. I cant say how devastated I have been and can only imagine what the children must be feeling. Completely traumatised that they were unable to stop this horror from happening. I dont think they will forget this or forgive. They will have understoof how affectionate and loving this little animal was and how much he will have trusted. They would have conected with this sheep in a way that they would never have done with animals which are reared for slaughter. They could have had this demonstrated in a far less horrific way and this teachers insensitivity is beyong belief. It would not matter if only one child objected, each one will be traumatised. I felt bad enough having to decide on my little guys life and he was unconcious and very ill. the very suggestion of anyone eating him would have killed me. I notice that there was an offer to buy him. Needing the money was clearly an excuse, they didn't have to slaughter the lamb. I hope this teacher suffers for the hurt she will have caused.If more people spent more time with these beautiful little animals they would see how humanised they become and how distressed they get even with small things like their mothers being sheared and they cant recognise them, or how upset the mothers are when the lambs are eventually taken away for slaughter. We need to understand and stop being responsible for such distress. You woulkdnt kill a cat or dog and sell it for food so why a pet lamb.

I grew up on a farm. It was the best education a child could wish for.

It taught me about work, responsibility,animal welfare and nature amongst other things.

I saw my first calf born at the age of 5. my first caesarian at 13.

I wish I'd sent my kids to a school like this.

It sounds to me like it's the parents who have a big problem with little Marcus.

What I find more amazing is the usual vitriolic comments tendered on these sites.

Well done Ms Charman! and as for you protesters, it sounds like you need a PROPER education.

Dear Mrs Charman,

I have just heard on the news that you had resigned. What a shame!

I have two children and, although not farmers, we have chickens, ducks and goose. I have taught my children that as long as we treat animals properly, we should not be ashamed of being carnivorous. We eat chicken, duck and goose. My children are not traumatised and treat our animals with great care.

Please reconsider your decision, Mrs Charman: we need people like you to teach our children the lesson of life.

You have all my support.

Mrs Charman should be praised for educating her children in the ways of country life. I was born in the country and was brought up round animals that were eventually slaughtered for food.

This is a way of life in the country.

If the parents don't like country life move back to the towns and send their children to town schools, then true country folk can move back to the country.