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I have no axe to grind; I am not a vegetarian, vegan or a Buddhist as I am an omnivore. I have no young impressionable children; I moved to a rural parish (Hawkinge) 10 years ago to enjoy the mix of a large village with many amenities and many more close by, but most of all to enjoy living in the countryside. Yes the countryside that we all so enjoy, which is only there in its present form because of Farmers and farming in all its types: fields of crops and meadows with animals grazing – many of whom are only there to provide meat for our table, leather for our shoes, and Gelatin for our fruit gums - they are not just there as bucolic scene props.

I would like to think that any school, rural or otherwise, will always strive to educate the children in their care in all matters including the many varied human behaviours and in so doing prepare them for the world with hopefully enough education so that they may be able form their own opinions and lifestyle choices – this is what I believe this school has strived to do.

Please let the matter rest now, and may I suggest with a poll hosted by the Hawkinge Gazette.

Regards,

Mike

It is interesting to see the parochial mindedness and bold assumptions being made by some contributors.

Incomers, vegetarians, small minded, nimbys and like comments hardly inform the debate when made in such a dismissive and desparaging way.

Even sillier is the use of terms like nimby and small minded which could well have been said to that person's mirror. Perhaps it is too much exposure to radiation from Dungeness Nuclear Power Station has altered people ability to think logically.

The Heads actions as reported are regrettable. If the actions are not as reported why has the Head, The School or the Managing Director of KCC Education not rebutted the reports.

I note a byline in the Times is suggesting Marcus' Martyrdom is the best propaganda for vegetarianism for a long time. Perhaps I can be so bold in the anthropomorphic furory surrounding this incident to suggest beatification as "Blessed Marcus of Lydd" or maybe canonisation to "Saint Marcus of Romney or maybe a posthumous Knighthood "Sir Marcus Romney" although an order of chivalry might not be appropriate for a sheep, KCT might fit the bill Knight Commander of the Trough!

Although that maybe more suited to politicians. Whatever happens I think it will be difficult to keep the Lydd on it!

I see one contributor has chosen to bring our gallant and brave military personnel into the story. It might be worth pointing out that many of those brave young men and women who will only have left their primary schools in the last seven or eight years, have suffered the most appalling effects of active service in a war zone where killing is deliberate on both sides. Many being physically and psychologically damaged by their experiences.

Therefore to make light of the traumatic effects of killing a childrens pet and suggest the parents should get a life or grow up or any other such abusive non empathetic phraseology and at the same time seek to make comparison with troops who have to deal with death daily is an indication of that persons mentality!

Dungeness may not have reached seven on the meltdown scale but Lydd Primary School is giving it a good run for it's money so let us all hope Mrs Charman has learnt from this incident and is not so foolish as to repeat the exercise without substantial modification of the peripheral logistics such as not allowing children to make anthropomorphic emotional bonds or vote without the full act of slaughter being explained.

She may be better advised to think expand French activities (You can probably see them on a clear day from the school roof!)or organise a Choir or some other beneficial experience with out polarising such a body of negative opinion!

The volume of passing ships in the busiest shipping lane in the world is on your doorstep. What a marvellous opportunity for maths, science, language art etc. All free no vets bills and they are there every day!

Creation of a school website would certainly inform both critics and supporters of the school and the use of your IT system to down the tons of free materials on food production and anything else you care to mention would surely be a good thing for the children to experience.

Many other schools have found this course of action a godsend in communicating with parents, governors, pupils, staff, County offices Government departments and the interested general public. Then perhaps Lydd would not appear so insular!