Animal welfare campaigners have hit out at a primary school after plans emerged to slaughter its pet pigs as a means of teaching pupils about the food chain.
The Gloucester Old Spot pigs have been reared this year by students as young as four at Farsley Farfield Primary school in Leeds, West Yorkshire, as part of a mini farm on the school's grounds - which also contains vegetable patches and hens.
However, the animals' lives will come to an end over the summer, when they'll be killed and processed into a pork product, which will then be sold, according to an online petition.
Advert
Many people have taken to social media to slam the plan, dubbing the idea 'cruel', 'traumatising' and 'disgusting'.
The scheme is the brainchild of the school's head teacher, Peter Harris, who said the plan will help pupils become 'more knowledgeable and sensitive to animal welfare'.
But not everyone sees things the same way, and now an online petition protesting the plan has been set up by a former student of the school, which has garnered almost 2,000 signatures.
Writing online, the former student said: "My main concerns are with the well-being of these pigs... and the message that we will be teaching the children at Farsley Farfield that it is okay to exploit and kill animals with the only justification being that people enjoy eating their bodies.
Advert
"Pigs are as intelligent as dogs and at least as smart as a three-year-old human child.
"They are friendly animals that can live for about 12 years or so.
"Schools have a duty of care to support children, teach them fair values and to provide a safe and happy environment for them.
"By teaching children that it is okay to exploit and kill animals they are in breach of this, and this could also be traumatising for children getting to know the animals and then knowing they are going to die."
Harris said he was aware of the petition and that he 'respects people's individual views'.
Advert
He described the school farm as a 'tremendous long-term success' that has given pupils a 'better understanding' of where their food comes from.
In a blog post on the school's website, Harris argued: "Through keeping the pigs the children will learn more about the provenance of their food and issues around animal welfare.
"I think that we are raising awareness of the meat industry, and some of the issues around animal welfare and sustainability.
"The pigs will live twice as long as commercial pigs and appear to be enjoying their outdoor life with plenty of opportunity to root around.
Advert
"Their welfare standards are much higher than most pigs.
"I don't think that we are desensitising the children, I suggest that our children will be more knowledgeable and sensitive to animal welfare than most of their peers."
Farsley Farfield Primary was named 'Healthy School of the Year' at the Times Educational Supplement's schools awards in 2017.
Advert
The school has one meat-free day a week, and there are boards at the farm explaining why meat consumption must be reduced.
"A key element of this project is to discuss the need to reduce meat consumption," Harris added.
While many are attempting to boycott Harris' idea, others have jumped to his defence, with one person saying it's 'a great idea', and another adding: "It's an important lesson to learn."
One parent, who was in support of the idea, said: "Despite some individuals' views on social media I think having the pigs on the farm is a brilliant idea.
"All of my children have been brought up knowing where our food comes from and it does not stop them eating any of it."
Another agreed, saying: "All of my children have attended this great school.
"I fully support the teaching of the pig's life cycle, children should be made aware of where their food comes from."
Pupil Charlotte Heap, 11, also defended her school, arguing that children knew the pigs were going to be slaughtered from the beginning.
She told the Yorkshire Evening Post: "We're not seeing the slaughter and we don't have anything to do with it.
"Most of us are fine with the idea."
Charlotte added: "[Mr Harris] wants people to make their own choices in life and to know where their food actually comes from. I think that's important."
Featured Image Credit: SWNS
Topics: UK News, News, Animals