NationStates Jolt Archive

School Pig Castration Sparks Protests

ROSAMOND, Calif. - A teacher who castrated a live pig in front of her high school class is the target of protests by animal rights activists throughout the country.


The protests began after People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals posted information about the incident at Rosamond High School on its Web site last month. The posting does not say when the castration occurred.

"We're concerned not only because animals suffer during these routine castrations but also because of the message it sends to students who are still forming opinions about treatment of animals in our society," said Stephanie Bell, a PETA cruelty case worker.

Rod Van Norman, superintendent of the Southern Kern Unified School District school in the Mojave Desert about 70 miles north of Los Angeles, said animal castrations often occur in agriculture classes and are an important skill for students to learn.

"I don't know why they're picking on a little school district," he said.

Charles Parker, assistant state Future Farmers of America adviser at the California Department of Education, said anesthesia is not normally used during pig castrations, which are done to calm male animals, prevent them from breeding and improve meat quality.

Bell said she hopes the nationwide attention will prompt the school district to reconsider teaching castration.

Van Norman said that's not likely. None of the complaints have come from parents of district students, he said.

A posting on PETA's Web site, however, says the organization learned of the castration from Rosamond parents, who reported that one student vomited after observing the procedure and others were extremely upset.



This is a little ridiculous, both PETA and the teacher. But still funny none the less. ANyone want to sign up for this class?


Van Norman said that's not likely. None of the complaints have come from parents of district students, he said

if the parents of the kids dont care, then why is it such a big friggin deal?

Hell, I've done it. I've also shot and butchered hogs, then had a BBQ roast that afternoon.

W/ raising hogs (or most animals) it's a fact that you need to castrate most of the males.

Just goes to show how detached from the reality of life PETA is.

Hypocrasy LOL, you eat meat, you accept all consequences.

Hell, I've done it. I've also shot and butchered hogs, then had a BBQ roast that afternoon.

W/ raising hogs (or most animals) it's a fact that you need to castrate most of the males.

Just goes to show how detached from the reality of life PETA is.


seriously you dont hear PETA bitching every time a dog or cat is neutered.

I really think PETA is just bored and looking for reasons to bitch

I wonder why they don't normally use anaesthetic? Too tricky I suppose.

if the parents of the kids dont care, then why is it such a big friggin deal?

The idea is that they don't know better, since they're not "activists."

Teacher castrates pig in front of High School class...

Teacher needs her ass kicked. Dissecting dead animals in science classes, in front of children, is one thing. Performing unanesthetized surgery on live ones, in front of children, is another.

The fact is, in order to raise [hogs|cattle|sheep|goats|etc] you normally have a very expensive male you purchase for breed stock, and let him breed with the females. You do not, however, want male children of the females growing up to be able to mate with their mothers/sisters, and create a situation of inbreeding. Therefore, you must castrate all non-breeding males to assure that your one male will do all the breeding, and prevent inbreeding. In Ag class (I went to a small Texas highschool) they teach you how to do this. You have to be able to do it to raise animals, and Ag class is where they show you how to raise animals.

PETA, as usual, can swing off my (insert vulgar word)

Teacher needs her ass kicked. Dissecting dead animals in science classes, in front of children, is one thing. Performing unanesthetized surgery on live ones, in front of children, is another.
In one of my high school classes, we castrated pigs, it was a lab. Am I the only one who see's no problem with the castration of the pig in a high school?

Teacher needs her ass kicked. Dissecting dead animals in science classes, in front of children, is one thing. Performing unanesthetized surgery on live ones, in front of children, is another.
If the class' purpose was to teach pig farming tecniques then it's valid. Most male pigs are castrated because if not the meat tastes lousy.

In one of my high school classes, we castrated pigs, it was a lab. Am I the only one who see's no problem with the castration of the pig in a high school?

I doubt you're the only one who sees no problem. I may be the only one who does. I grew up on a cattle farm, I know all about the need for animal castrations. But I am also a parent, and unless I give written consent, I don't want my child witnessing someone slice open a live animal at school.

If the class' purpose was to teach pig farming tecniques then it's valid. Most male pigs are castrated because if not the meat tastes lousy.


exactly.

Teacher needs her ass kicked. Dissecting dead animals in science classes, in front of children, is one thing. Performing unanesthetized surgery on live ones, in front of children, is another.


It is an AGRICULTURE class. They are learning, supposedly, to do what they need to do to become successful farmers.

And I believe high school students would be insulted to be called "children".

ouch. sweet lord....couldnt they have put him to sleep or something?

I wish I was in that class.

seriously you dont hear PETA bitching every time a dog or cat is neutered.

I really think PETA is just bored and looking for reasons to bitch

No, htey just oppose pet ownership in general.

I doubt you're the only one who sees no problem. I may be the only one who does. I grew up on a cattle farm, I know all about the need for animal castrations. But I am also a parent, and unless I give written consent, I don't want my child witnessing someone slice open a live animal at school.
Well first off, they are in high school, so I would trust them to be able to handle something lik ea pig getting castrated. If they were in 1st-8th grade, I would see a problem. I seriously beleive most high school students are responsible enough to get what is going on, especially if they are in an agriculture class.

It is an AGRICULTURE class. They are learning, supposedly, to do what they need to do to become successful farmers.

And I believe high school students would be insulted to be called "children".

As I said a moment ago, I am a parent, and unless I give explicit written consent, I don't want my child witnessing someone slice open a live animal at school. I don't care what class they're in.

And high-school students, regardless of their personal level of delusion to the contrary, ARE still children.

ouch. sweet lord....couldnt they have put him to sleep or something?
In an actual farm setting they don't put the animals under, so why do it in a classroom setting where they are learning about this sort of thing?

In an actual farm setting they don't put the animals under, so why do it in a classroom setting where they are learning about this sort of thing?

I didnt know they didnt put them under on the farm. It just seems that whereever they are cutting balls off, anesthesia should be used.....even a local would be better than none.

I doubt you're the only one who sees no problem. I may be the only one who does. I grew up on a cattle farm, I know all about the need for animal castrations. But I am also a parent, and unless I give written consent, I don't want my child witnessing someone slice open a live animal at school.

I agree. So long as the students and parents (in the case of children under 18) are forewarned, then by all means, hack those lil' pigs' balls off.

I grew up on a hog farm. When the time was right (male hogs were big enough from the current set of farrowing), we did the following:

- Let all the little piggies out into the main alleyway (in the farrowing house).
- Find the females and place them back into the stalls.
- I would then grab a male, lay him on his side, and kneel on his hindquarters (not my full weight) while holding his front legs tight.
- Mom would spray iodine (to sterilize) liberally on the male pigs scrotum (on the backside of the hog).
- Mom would make two incisions with a knife, and squeeze out the testicles, cutting the cords and throwing the testicles into a can.
- Spray some more iodine on there and place the pig back in the stall.
- Repeat for 90-100 male piggies.

That's how it is still done in lots of places. Get to them when they are still small enough to handle (big big enough to take it), and do it while they are conscious. Good grief, to use aneasthetic on every one would be a nightmare!

I didnt know they didnt put them under on the farm. It just seems that whereever they are cutting balls off, anesthesia should be used.....even a local would be better than none.
I don't know why, but that made me laugh.

They are young enough so they don't really notice as much. If it were an older pig, which would be pointless, they would have to anesthetise it, to prevent it from injuring itself, or the person doing the work.

I don't know why, but that made me laugh.

They are young enough so they don't really notice as much. If it were an older pig, which would be pointless, they would have to anesthetise it, to prevent it from injuring itself, or the person doing the work.

I suppose it could be compared to an infants circumcision vs an adult males.....the adult would most definitely get anesthisia whereas the baby is crying anyways, so snip snip, whos gonna know?

Lucky bastards, they only had to watch. When I took Animal Husbandry in H.S. I had to do the pig castration myself, as did everyone else in the class.

ouch. sweet lord....couldnt they have put him to sleep or something?
I guess I could ask why they don't put babies asleep when they circumcise boys?

What are you going to do with 500 pigs that are asleep? Sow has around 8 pigs, half are male. That would be only 125 sows. That would be a small pig farm by today's standards. Who's going to pay for the anesthesiologist?

I'm wondering if they also clipped the teeth? Surely they did. It's usually done at the same time. If you don't clip the teeth they get tusks. Then the strongest kill the weakest.

I wonder if they ate the "oysters". Great tasting lean meat.

These recent threads about agriculture just have me amazed how far the average person is insulated from the food they eat.

I guess I could ask why they don't put babies asleep when they circumcise boys?

What are you going to do with 500 pigs that are asleep? Sow has around 8 pigs, half are male. That would be only 125 sows. That would be a small pig farm by today's standards. Who's going to pay for the anesthesiologist?

I'm wondering if they also clipped the teeth? Surely they did. It's usually done at the same time. If you don't clip the teeth they get tusks. Then the strongest kill the weakest.

I wonder if they ate the "oysters". Great tasting lean meat.

These recent threads about agriculture just have me amazed how far the average person is insulated from the food they eat.

Apparently you didnt read two posts up. And they use a topical anesthetic on babies for circumcision FYI.

As I said a moment ago, I am a parent, and unless I give explicit written consent, I don't want my child witnessing someone slice open a live animal at school. I don't care what class they're in.

And high-school students, regardless of their personal level of delusion to the contrary, ARE still children.

Really? you consider 18 a child?

Really? you consider 18 a child?

Only 1/8 of high schoolers have reached 18. You make rules for the majority, not the minority. As a parent, I want the right to say no.

Who says the parents did not have the right to say no? The article specifically said no parents complained.

Who says the parents did not have the right to say no? The article specifically said no parents complained.

The original article, as posted, did not say that the parents were not given such opportunity. I don't know whether they were or weren't.

The original question I responded to was if anybody had a problem with the castration. My response was that, as a parent, I would want the opportunity to veto it. I might decide my child was mature enough and that such an experience would benefit him, I might not. But as the original article did not specifically say that parents WERE aware ahead of time and given the option of saying no, I said I had a problem on those specific grounds.

Edits: a bunch, for clarity.

I think PETA's missing something, I've seen a pig get killed, it is not pretty or quiet. Screams/squeals like a pig. This will only create vegans. I like meat, but if I had to see where it came from and what has to be done, I would probably go off it.

if the parents of the kids dont care, then why is it such a big friggin deal?
You don't know PETA very well.

Yeah, those kids are still forming idea about treatment of animals in our society: should they be grilled or breaded.

Big Fuckin Deal. Ag science classes have always been like that. Farm kids, FFA members, take those classes, they know what to expect. Probably not the first castration they've witnessed. I used to raise hogs, I was castrating them myself at the age of 15.

My ag class did a sheep. I wonder what they would have made of that.

During the process on sheep there is a point where you ...Uh... sort of run out of hands (when performed by one person). It's standard practice to use your teeth to hold onto things.... If you catch my drift.

Jeez, those People for the Erotic Torture of Animals can sure cause a storm...

Just wait until they break out the Calving Gloves to try to pivot a breech... :eek:

all i have to say about this is, "PETA sucks donk... no make that pig balls"

Just wait until they break out the Calving Gloves to try to pivot a breech... :eek:"hey, why doe's that rubber glove go all the way up to your shoulder ....?:eek:
HOLY SHIT!!!"

Pretty impressive the first time you see it ...;)

"hey, why doe's that rubber glove go all the way up to your shoulder ....?:eek:
HOLY SHIT!!!"

Pretty impressive the first time you see it ...;)

More impressive the first time you do it....

MOOOO! :eek:

As for Castration, I always liked the rubberband method better than the hot knife at branding. Way fewer problems IMEX.

More impressive the first time you do it....

MOOOO! :eek:

As for Castration, I always liked the rubberband method better than the hot knife at branding. Way fewer problems IMEX.Bands don't work for hogs. You still gotta cut. Probably why the teacher selected a pig. Banding is now the norm for most other livestock.

Bands don't work for hogs. You still gotta cut. Probably why the teacher selected a pig. Banding is now the norm for most other livestock.
Really? Just goes to show I never worked on a hog farm. :D

Growing up in Wyoming was more about cattle & sheep... even if my back ain't broke. :p

I think PETA's missing something, I've seen a pig get killed, it is not pretty or quiet. Screams/squeals like a pig. This will only create vegans. I like meat, but if I had to see where it came from and what has to be done, I would probably go off it.

Where did you see it done, and how?

When I did it, a .22 to the forehead and they dropped straight down w/o making a sound.

Only 1/8 of high schoolers have reached 18. You make rules for the majority, not the minority. As a parent, I want the right to say no.

I have an interesting question. I am currently only 16 (17 very soon) but I am in University, would you consider me a child? As for your right as a parent to say no on their behalf, do you actualy believe you have controll over them by the tie they are 16/17? not legaly but otherwise?

Where did you see it done, and how?

When I did it, a .22 to the forehead and they dropped straight down w/o making a sound.

Mexico, three guys wrestling the pig while trying to put a pole through its heart. I've always wondered why they couldn't have thought of a more efficient method. Hopefully, most pigs get whats coming to them your way and not the way I saw.

I have an interesting question. I am currently only 16 (17 very soon) but I am in University, would you consider me a child? As for your right as a parent to say no on their behalf, do you actualy believe you have controll over them by the tie they are 16/17? not legaly but otherwise?

Do you go to a pediatrician? Do you vote? Can you drink/smoke/own a weapon legally? It may be an arbitrary line in the sand, but its still there. If there is no pragmatic control over 16/17 year olds, then why bother begrudging them their legal powers? Do you think that if parents said no on this that teenagers would go off to parties and castrate pigs?

As I said a moment ago, I am a parent, and unless I give explicit written consent, I don't want my child witnessing someone slice open a live animal at school. I don't care what class they're in.

And high-school students, regardless of their personal level of delusion to the contrary, ARE still children.
I'm sure that there are even more activities that you would want to approve of before you high school student attends them. Right? How is the school supposed to decide which parts of it's curriculum are going to offend which parents? Don't you suppose that you are consenting to the curriculum if you allow a student to attend a school? Especially if the student brings home a schedule that includes classes like biology and farm animal management?

Do you go to a pediatrician? Do you vote? Can you drink/smoke/own a weapon legally? It may be an arbitrary line in the sand, but its still there. If there is no pragmatic control over 16/17 year olds, then why bother begrudging them their legal powers? Do you think that if parents said no on this that teenagers would go off to parties and castrate pigs?

As I said legality has little to do with it. I can't legaly drink but there are very few in college who don't, there are also a fair few smokers (although I don't). I infact could own a weapon from 16, I do have a foil (not really a weapon as it doesn't have a point but oh well). As for going to parties and castrating pigs.... well thats a whole lot more effort than its worth however, if its something they really want to do eg smoking, drinking or doing drugs etc then you aren't going to be able to stop them unless you run your house like a police state and even then its tricky.

As I said legality has little to do with it. I can't legaly drink but there are very few in college who don't, there are also a fair few smokers (although I don't). I infact could own a weapon from 16, I do have a foil (not really a weapon as it doesn't have a point but oh well). As for going to parties and castrating pigs.... well thats a whole lot more effort than its worth however, if its something they really want to do eg smoking, drinking or doing drugs etc then you aren't going to be able to stop them unless you run your house like a police state and even then its tricky.

then why begrudge the parents their legal powers?

Mexico, three guys wrestling the pig while trying to put a pole through its heart. I've always wondered why they couldn't have thought of a more efficient method. Hopefully, most pigs get whats coming to them your way and not the way I saw.

The standard way in most slaughter houses is a rod gun (can't remember the exact name) while on every farm I've been on that does thier own, a gun was used.

Sounds like the ones you observed were either intentionally cruel or incompetant.

I'm sure that there are even more activities that you would want to approve of before you high school student attends them. Right? How is the school supposed to decide which parts of it's curriculum are going to offend which parents? Don't you suppose that you are consenting to the curriculum if you allow a student to attend a school? Especially if the student brings home a schedule that includes classes like biology and farm animal management?

If you give the parents a copy of the curriculum and outline what methods you will be using to teach said subjects, then sure. You cant consent to something you dont know about. If the syllabus says '' Live pig castration Feb 23" then the parents are aware and then it would be fair for you to say "dont they consent to the curriculum by allowing a student to attend the school."

If you give the parents a copy of the curriculum and outline what methods you will be using to teach said subjects, then sure. You cant consent to something you dont know about. If the syllabus says '' Live pig castration Feb 23" then the parents are aware and then it would be fair for you to say "dont they consent to the curriculum by allowing a student to attend the school."

*tries to instigate*

Of course a "good" parent would ask about what their children are learning in class.

then why begrudge the parents their legal powers?

I never said they shouldn't have legal powers, all I said was that just because they do doesn't mean they can actualy controll teenagers (in a practical way). Also as Katganistan said I do not enjoy being labeled a child, I would like to be judged on my own merits and ability to function within a society (including rights to drink etc etc) not on what age I am.

*tries to instigate*

Of course a "good" parent would ask about what their children are learning in class.


A good school would provide ample information to the parent, as they are charged with the main portion of educating. How can you work together as a team if the coach doesnt show you the playbook?

I wonder why they don't normally use anaesthetic? Too tricky I suppose.
it's dangerous. You need a vet to administer it, it's expensive to get the vet out to do that every time you castrate an animal.

If you give the parents a copy of the curriculum and outline what methods you will be using to teach said subjects, then sure. You cant consent to something you dont know about. If the syllabus says '' Live pig castration Feb 23" then the parents are aware and then it would be fair for you to say "dont they consent to the curriculum by allowing a student to attend the school."
I'm bringing some extra baggage along with this question. My wife teaches and it is always a guessing game for her to figure out what activity needs a permission slip and what doesn't. It used to be that field trips were about the only thing she required a permission slip for. Now, she asks for permission for a child to see a movie like 1776 -- it's a musical, for Pete's sake, but she gets enough complaints that the permission slips go home, anyway.

My opinion is still the same. If you send your child to a school -- whether it's Fulton County High, or Westminster, _you_, as the parent responsible for the child, have the burden of determining what parts of the curriculum offend you. The school should provide the curriculum, if asked, but they don't need to be clairvoyant.

it's dangerous. You need a vet to administer it, it's expensive to get the vet out to do that every time you castrate an animal.
Yeah, having read the rest of the thread I realise that now. Having read the description of how it's done, it doesn't seem so bad, either. I imagined some sort of machete, but a couple of nicks are no big deal.
*squirms anyway*

A good school would provide ample information to the parent, as they are charged with the main portion of educating. How can you work together as a team if the coach doesnt show you the playbook?


Say "Coach, can we see the playbook?"

;)

My opinion is still the same. If you send your child to a school -- whether it's Fulton County High, or Westminster, _you_, as the parent responsible for the child, have the burden of determining what parts of the curriculum offend you. The school should provide the curriculum, if asked, but they don't need to be clairvoyant.

Parents are far too protective anyway.

I'm bringing some extra baggage along with this question. My wife teaches and it is always a guessing game for her to figure out what activity needs a permission slip and what doesn't. It used to be that field trips were about the only thing she required a permission slip for. Now, she asks for permission for a child to see a movie like 1776 -- it's a musical, for Pete's sake, but she gets enough complaints that the permission slips go home, anyway.

My opinion is still the same. If you send your child to a school -- whether it's Fulton County High, or Westminster, _you_, as the parent responsible for the child, have the burden of determining what parts of the curriculum offend you. The school should provide the curriculum, if asked, but they don't need to be clairvoyant.

I agree it can be extreme, as you mentioned your wife's experience. Sending the curriculum to the parents and asking them to sign a "i have read this" form to return back to the teacher, would be wise on behalf of the school. Then if there is a complaint or an enraged parent who claims "I had no idea this was going on in school!" the school can show that they did in fact alert them of who/what/when/where/how.

They make you sign all kinds of things like that now in many situations. You cant even get your oil changed without signing a release form stating they told you they were going to do "this/this/this and that .

Say "Coach, can we see the playbook?"

;)


No you little instigator,now go sit on the bench.

;)

I agree it can be extreme, as you mentioned your wife's experience. Sending the curriculum to the parents and asking them to sign a "i have read this" form to return back to the teacher, would be wise on behalf of the school. Then if there is a complaint or an enraged parent who claims "I had no idea this was going on in school!" the school can show that they did in fact alert them of who/what/when/where/how.

They make you sign all kinds of things like that now in many situations. You cant even get your oil changed without signing a release form stating they told you they were going to do "this/this/this and that .

That wouldn't be a bad idea. Maybe encourage more parents to actually interact w/ their children and their schooling.

I'm against castration
I'm against PETA +2

Teacher wins, castrate PETA.

Hahahahaha.

That wouldn't be a bad idea. Maybe encourage more parents to actually interact w/ their children and their schooling.
It's off topic, but a little funny. There are those parents that interact so much that they don't allow their children any responsibility at all. My wife will give a test on Monday. The student goes home and tells Mom that he took a test. Before she goes home on Monday, my wife will have received an email from the parent asking about the test score.

But, by and large, parents could do more with the schools. PTA nights don't attract that many and it seems the parents only attend teacher conferences if they are 1) afraid their child is failing because he needs special ed and is not getting it, or 2) sure the child is failing because the teacher is out to get the child. I've asked my wife several times how she chooses the ones to 'get' out of the hundred or so she teaches every day.

It's off topic, but a little funny. There are those parents that interact so much that they don't allow their children any responsibility at all. My wife will give a test on Monday. The student goes home and tells Mom that he took a test. Before she goes home on Monday, my wife will have received an email from the parent asking about the test score.

Thats ridiculous

If you give the parents a copy of the curriculum and outline what methods you will be using to teach said subjects, then sure. You cant consent to something you dont know about. If the syllabus says '' Live pig castration Feb 23" then the parents are aware and then it would be fair for you to say "dont they consent to the curriculum by allowing a student to attend the school."

So that means the parents are the ones who choose what education their children get, not the teens themselves? What if highly religious parents didn't want their scientifically minded child learning evolution, do they have the right to stop him from knowing about it?

Mexico, three guys wrestling the pig while trying to put a pole through its heart. I've always wondered why they couldn't have thought of a more efficient method. Hopefully, most pigs get whats coming to them your way and not the way I saw.
Small places that kill the odd pig still do it like that. Big places that have to comply with Federal law have to do it humanely. However, I don't know what's the percentage of pigs killed this way versus the total of pigs killed in Mexico.

Here's the Mexican official standard (in Spanish):
http://web2.senasica.sagarpa.gob.mx/xportal/dgsa/mrni/Doc328/Nomint033.doc

Thats ridiculous
She teaches eight grade. Middle school is the transition between the self-sufficiency that one expects in high school and grade school coddling. I can only think that a student, who is denied the chance to look out for himself, will become a major behavior problem in high school and a likely drop out.

Stupid California.

I really feel sorry for those of you who have had no exposure to life and death as a day to day experience. Having grown up on a farm, I can't imagine why a parent would exclude a child from the realities of their existance.

A farm kid doesn't need to be told about sex it's a day to day part of life.
A farm kid doesn't need to be told about birth, s/he has seen it both easy, hard and failure.
A farm kid doesn't need to be told about what happens when Grandma dies, death is a regular part of life.
A farm kid doesn't need to be told about suffering, and aiding the end of suffering.
A farm kid understands blood, it's a part of birth and a part of death, and a part of all between.
A farm kid understands bodily functions, urination, defication, menstration, lactation, sickness, parasites, internal organs, external organs...........
A farm kid understands that every mouthful of food s/he takes in means something died (animal or vegetable) so that they may live. (I'm sure explaining Christianity is easier that way.)
A farm kid grows with life and living and death from the time they can walk.
As a former farm kid, and now a farmer, it is beyond belief that a child of any age needs to be "protected" from life. REAL LIFE.

It is no wonder so many kids are so screwed up and so many marriages fail. How can you live life when you've been totally walled from life?

So that means the parents are the ones who choose what education their children get, not the teens themselves? What if highly religious parents didn't want their scientifically minded child learning evolution, do they have the right to stop him from knowing about it?


No, thats not at all what I was saying. I'm saying provide them with information on things like cutting the balls off of a live pig. Dont twist my words.

but since you asked..... technically if they are a minor, yes they have the right. Although I would suggest they send them to a private christian school if that be the case.

I really feel sorry for those of you who have had no exposure to life and death as a day to day experience. Having grown up on a farm, I can't imagine why a parent would exclude a child from the realities of their existance.

-snip

It is no wonder so many kids are so screwed up and so many marriages fail. How can you live life when you've been totally walled from life?

I can agree to that, as for myself I was pretty ruthlessly trained since age six to be a great wrestler so I knew what suffering was all about and what it's like to be allowed to eat what you want when you want.

She teaches eight grade. Middle school is the transition between the self-sufficiency that one expects in high school and grade school coddling. I can only think that a student, who is denied the chance to look out for himself, will become a major behavior problem in high school and a likely drop out.


My daughter is in 1st grade and she is responsible for a lot of things some parents might think is too much for that age. I try to instill a sense of responsibility and accountability in her. There are some things she has to learn from experience. Over protecting is dangerous for the child.

That's kinda of gross. I'm not a PETA freak or anything but they could at least use a model to do it.

The other day, I saw someone in a PETA shirt eating Ribs. Pig=:confused: Teacher=:mp5:
:confused: :mp5:

poor pig. But i can't see what the fuss is about personally.

I'm probably what you would call one of those 'walled' kids. I don't take huge risks and have never needed to go to hospital for breaking my arm from falling out of a tree or something. BUt I 100% agree that kids need to be taught about where things come from, from a young age. It's shocking that there are children in britain who don't know that a cow makes milk.

The fact is, in order to raise [hogs|cattle|sheep|goats|etc] you normally have a very expensive male you purchase for breed stock, and let him breed with the females. You do not, however, want male children of the females growing up to be able to mate with their mothers/sisters, and create a situation of inbreeding. Therefore, you must castrate all non-breeding males to assure that your one male will do all the breeding, and prevent inbreeding. In Ag class (I went to a small Texas highschool) they teach you how to do this. You have to be able to do it to raise animals, and Ag class is where they show you how to raise animals.

PETA, as usual, can swing off my (insert vulgar word)
Awww, but inbreeding is FUNNNN!!!! :D