Marcus the Sheep is slaughtered, despite parents' campaign at Lydd school
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Marcus, the sheep reared at Lydd
primary school and the subject of a campaign to save him from the
abbatoir, has been slaughtered.
The plight of the six-month-old sheep
attracted media attention across the country when word spread
that he was to be killed for meat as part of the school's attempts
to educate pupils about farming.
A proceeding raffle would see two
people win freezer packs of lamb,
with the money raised would be used by the school to
buy more animals for the children.
But angry animal lovers have voiced
their concerns, resutling in national headlines, TV coverage and a
Facebook campaign.
TV star and Aldington resident Paul
O'Grady told the BBC he would be happy to take charge of Marcus and
a farmer from Brentwood in Essex e-mailed the school
offering the sheep
a safe haven.
But head teacher Andrea Charman,
pictured below at a school lambing day in May, was adamant
that the school's original plan, backed she says by pupils and
staff, would go ahead.
Mrs Charman said: "The decision to
send the lamb for meat, which has the support of the school council
and staff, the governing body and the majority of parents, has now
been carried out.
“When we started the farm in spring
2009, the aim was to educate the children in all aspects of farming
life and everything that implies.
"The children have had a range of
opportunities to discuss this issue, both in terms of the food
cycle and the ethical aspect.
"There is overwhelming support for
the school, locally and further afield.
"It is important for everyone to move
on from this issue, so the children can focus on their
education.”
Monday, September 14 2009
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