I don't think the girl should have taken the class if she had a problem with it. Chances are other students had talked about this project in past years and she knew very well what would be happening, unless this was a new teacher or a new project introduced to the class. Even then, she should have opted for something else like chorus or cooking. I'm also pretty sure she knew exactly what was going to happen AHEAD of time. She should have spoken to her parents about it. I highly doubt the kids come into class one day and the teacher just passes out knives and says "here, lets kill some chickens!".
The article seemed very one sided. A lot of ag classes raise and slaughter animals. My ag class raised turkeys. However, students bought the turkeys and could keep them as pets if they wanted. Turkeys were slaughtered the weekend before thanksgiving and you could even pay someone else there to do it for you. It was an optional project, but I really wouldn't have had a problem if it wasn't optional. Some classes I know have raised a cow for slaughter, or pigs, or whatever. If kids have an issue with it, they don't take the class. There were always plenty of more options for them.
The article seemed very one sided. A lot of ag classes raise and slaughter animals. My ag class raised turkeys. However, students bought the turkeys and could keep them as pets if they wanted. Turkeys were slaughtered the weekend before thanksgiving and you could even pay someone else there to do it for you. It was an optional project, but I really wouldn't have had a problem if it wasn't optional. Some classes I know have raised a cow for slaughter, or pigs, or whatever. If kids have an issue with it, they don't take the class. There were always plenty of more options for them.