I am writing regarding the letter submitted by Karen Davis, the president of the United Poultry Concerns. Please allow me to introduce myself, as Ms. Davis did. I am a college graduate, and most importantly, the parent of an eighth-grade student at The Community School. In addition to these attributes, I must also be a dumb ass, because, I have to ask, do poultry have concerns? You know, how do I pay my mortgage, how do I pay to put gas in my car, how do I pay to put food on the table, etc.?
The poultry project was a very small part of a food study that the eighth-grade students participated in. The main focus was to be aware of where your food comes from, and to make healthier choices in what you eat. I know my son learned so much from this study, and I'm thrilled he was able to participate in it. Scott and Naomi did an amazing job. They spent most of their summers researching how to do this in the most humane way possible. My son learned so much from this food group study, and I am so grateful to Scott and Naomi. The children were given a choice in this project—no one was forced to participate, so how can you call this child abuse? Maybe chicken abuse, because no one asked the chickens what their concerns were going into this.
Were you there, Ms. Davis? I was. Do you have the right to judge these teachers and children? The children and teachers spent months preparing for the dinner that night. All-organic, roasted soups, vegetables, and, yes, chickens raised by the kids themselves. The kids built a greenhouse, where they grew the vegetables. The children were all very proud of this project, and I am proud of them, too!
Lori Wright
Ketchum
