If - in fact - the school did not make it clear to the students what they were getting into then the school was in the wrong and they wronged you in forcing you to stay in the class. I've got children of my own in school and have seen things happen where the school messed up. I've also seen my kids mess up in that regard as well so I'd want to hear the school's side of the story as well before coming to a conclusion.
If you are not comfortable with change.org version...please check out the many other versions of this event available online...several newspapers, NBC action news, numerous blogs,
reference removed by staff and blogs. I welcome everyone to look up Chicklett's facebook and read the information available and newspaper articles. I keep running into the same opposing arguements ...that I could of opted out (not true), that I should have known what i was getting into (not true) etc.
The medium is a pretty big part of the message here. When the (references removed) become involved I begin to smell a rat.
BUT...what about killing animals at school in the first place? what about offending large groups of people and traumatizing a handfull of students? what about parental permission? kansas statutes? health and safety of the kids? cruelty toward the chickens? There are so many other concerns related to this event. . They have been communicating with the school and know a great deal about all of this as well. Otherwise, I have had an overwhelming amount of support and I thank you all very very much for that. i hope that more people will read about it, read all that they can on it. ..and then draw a conclusion. I respect differing points of view as long as you have done your homework. I hope that even if you don't agree with my decision that you can at least respect it or understand. I will always try to do the same for others. I believe the controversy is a blessing because it gets people to talk about or think about the bigger picture. The appropriateness of slaughtering at school, the inhumane way animals are treated in the mass-production food industry and the indifference toward many animals and especially a chicken. I love all of you for caring, reading, posting, supporting and debating. I think you are all beautiful, caring people. This experience has taught me a great deal and I never anticipated the vast numbers of people that would care about "just one chicken." It's a beautiful, amazing thing. The world seems smaller and people seem kinder all of a sudden. I feel hopeful. Thank you all. ~Whitney Hillman & Chicklett
What about killing animals at school? It's an ag course. Maybe you were misinformed about the nature of the class you signed up for, but it's an agriculture class about food production. Not pet chickens. If you were not aware of what you were signing up for I can appreciate that you did not want to do it, but you did not have to actually kill anything. Others would have done that. All you would have to do was assist in processing the bird. It's smelly and dirty, but no more so than dissecting frogs and earthworms that biology students the world over have to do. There are procedures to be followed to ensure the health and safety of the students. The school wasn't asking kindergarten students to handle knives and get their hands dirty but high school students who are presumed to be on the edge of adulthood. Life is sometimes messy. Young children are usually excused from having to cope with the messier aspects, but adults and those who are about to become adults not so much.
It may be the school did you wrong in not being clear as to what you were signing up for and if that is the case they should sincerely apologize. And it may be that since we see the (reference removed by staff). championing this case that there was knowledge aforethought about exactly what was going to happen.
Please do stick around and learn here as well.
I loved your story and it has certainly started a lot of interesting discussions, and thank you for clarifying some of the points others may have missed. We love to see pictures on here, so post one of Chicklett if you can!
