School stops keeping pigs after vegan protests
The four pigs reared by pupils were taken away after a petition was launched A SENIOR teacher at a top private school for girls yesterday warned that heterosexuality was being ignored in favour of gay and transgender issues.
Cathy Ellott said it was important to continue to discuss relationships between men and women because this was the “majority experience”.
She added that such partnerships should be “learned about and celebrated” in schools so that children are prepared for adult life.
There was a real danger that emphasis on alternative lifestyles could confuse youngsters, she added.
Mrs Ellott said St Mary’s in Ascot, Berkshire would continue to identify itself as “a school for girls”.
Mrs Ellott is the pastoral deputy of the all-girls Catholic Cathy Ellott issued the warning boarding school, where fees are more than £36,000 a year, and is in charge of child protection.
Her comments in the Independent School Parent magazine come after the Government introduced compulsory relationships classes for children of all ages.
Some schools are teaching children as young as five about gay relationships and gender problems.
Lessons must include material about same-sex relationships and transgender issues to comply with the Equality Act.
Some schools have stopped using the words boys and girls so that transgender pupils feel included.
Mrs Ellott said that while pupils at St Mary’s were taught about LGBT issues, they are not the focus of relationships lessons. St Mary’s is taking a more traditional approach, she said, adding: “We would not enforce this in our school as we identify ourselves as a school for girls.
“We use ‘pupils’ in formal situations and documentation, and often use ‘girls’ when addressing the girls. The girls themselves have said that they prefer this.”
The relationship classes were conducted at St Mary’s “within the context of its Catholic ethos”.
Mrs Ellott is worried that some children face medical intervention if they question their gender while young.
Child referrals to the NHS FURIOUS parents branded a school “a pushover” yesterday for giving away four pigs being reared by pupils for meat after objections from “animal rights bullies”.
Authorities said they had no choice but to return the Tamworths and Gloucester Old Spots to the original owners after a vegan parent’s petition to save them gained 20,000 names in 24 hours.
Priestlands School had kept pigs on site for 10 years, teaching youngsters aspects of country living and parents say it has caved in to the animal rights lobby.
Emma Hayward, 35, from Sway, whose daughter Chantelle, 13, attends the school in Lymington, Hampshire, said: “The school teaches standing up to bullies but the second they get bullied, they just crumbled under the pressure like pushovers.
“They say they had death threats sent in. They should have got the police involved and when it came to the pigs they should have asked parents. They are an educational Gender Identity Development Service have soared.
Mrs Ellott said: “If children suffering from gender dysphoria require medical support to flourish, then I am pleased that these services are available.
“However I have serious concerns about medical intervention in children as part of a transitioning process.”
She added: “There is a danger that other sexualities are discussed, and heterosexuality – which is the majority experience – is ignored rather than learned about and celebrated.”
Mrs Ellott went on: “This means that although the girls are educated about transgender issues they are encouraged to establishment. What kind of message does that send to the kids?”
The children had been taught about how the pigs would eventually be slaughtered, parents at the school gates said yesterday.
Hollie Redman, 43, from Lymington, who has a daughter at the school, said: “Not everyone is going to be a vegan or vegetarian and we shouldn’t let one person’s views dictate our lives.”
In the past, the pork was sold by local butchers or served in school meals. Pupils also worked with butchers to make sausages.
An unrepentant Vincent Cook, who started the petition, said: “I develop their own response to these issues, guided by their faith.”
She did not reveal whether the school has any transgender pupils, but said: “We would work very closely with the girl, her parents and where necessary other health professionals to consider what is best for the girl within a girls’ full-boarding school environment.”
Mrs Ellott’s comments won praise and support from people who posted their thoughts on her comments on the internet.
One said: “Wow .... someone in authority with common sense.”
Another said: “The voice of reason... get ready for the onslaught though.” find it difficult to see how we can teach our children to be compassionate to all around them when we choose to exploit the most vulnerable.”
Priestlands head teacher Chris Willsher said: “We’ve never forced the youngsters to work with the animals, it’s always been a matter of choice.
“Part of the rationale was to give children a better understanding of farming and meat production. We live in a rural community, a lot of the local jobs are in farming.”
There will now be a public consultation on whether to continue rearing pigs at the school.