Lilac Hamster
Mar 30th, 2007, 12:52 PM
I am so mad right now with my 5 year old daughter's infant school, so thoughtless and disrespectful in some of the things they make the children sing and they KNOW how strongly I feel about our vegan ethics and raising the children this way so IMO there is no excuse for what they did today and they should have discussed this with me beforehand!
Today was the Easter Bonnet parade so I had made up an Easter hat with some toy chicks and paper flowers, as did most of the parents.
When it came to parade time I was there with the parents waiting, the reception children came in in their hats, and then all started singing "chick chick chick chick chicken, lay a little egg for me... I want one for my tea... etc, etc". Obviously I was not happy, but could not say anything! I have to work out what I am going to do to address this after the Easter break.
Afterwards on the way home I called hubby at work and he said he had actually heard Lucy singing this song at home one time this week (I had not heard her), and so he was somewhat aware they had been singing it in school, although obviously neither of us was aware that the children as a group would be singing it at the Easter hat parade today. Her father had explained to her that we don't want to eat eggs from hens, which she agreed we did not want to eat, but she also said it was just a song (see how they use these things to brainwash kids, the idea that farming is all sweetness and light all you have to do is ask a hen nicely for an egg?).
I am so upset about the mixed messages my daughter is getting, with the school promoting the eating of eggs by making the children sing this song. She knows we do not agree with it, so I am worried as to how she might be feeling in case she thinks I might be cross or upset with her for singing it today with the other children (I wouldn't blame her obviously, she is only 5 years old, and I hold the teachers and headteacher 100% responsible for being so completely disrespectful and insensitive to my beliefs about animal exploitation). My daughter is so good about asking if things are vegan and totally accepts we are vegan so as not to harm animals, all three children do do far and are not rebelling against it, I think because we have never just said we are vegan but we have explained although not graphically, that animals suffer in the process so they all seem to see the sense in why we are a vegan family. But I am terribly upset about the conflicting pressures on my daughter in this situation, because she is too young to explain to the teachers that we are not happy about her having to sing an egg eating song. My main concern is that the whole thing, which should have been a happy occasion, might have caused her some anxiety today! She ran over and gave me a big hug right after the Easter hat parade, before returning to her classroom, and I am wondering if this was in part because she was seeking some reassurance that I was not mad with her for singing an anti-vegan song! most of the kids did not rush up to their mums for a big hug, but stayed in line like little soldiers. Maybe I am reading too much into it and she would probably do that anyway, she does tend to do this which is lovely and spontaneous, but I don't know if she is feeling some anxiety about my possible disapproval. I don't want this for her and am so mad with the school for putting us through this.
What would other parents do in this situation, and can anyone think of any Easter songs I can suggest for next year which would not be offensive?
Today was the Easter Bonnet parade so I had made up an Easter hat with some toy chicks and paper flowers, as did most of the parents.
When it came to parade time I was there with the parents waiting, the reception children came in in their hats, and then all started singing "chick chick chick chick chicken, lay a little egg for me... I want one for my tea... etc, etc". Obviously I was not happy, but could not say anything! I have to work out what I am going to do to address this after the Easter break.
Afterwards on the way home I called hubby at work and he said he had actually heard Lucy singing this song at home one time this week (I had not heard her), and so he was somewhat aware they had been singing it in school, although obviously neither of us was aware that the children as a group would be singing it at the Easter hat parade today. Her father had explained to her that we don't want to eat eggs from hens, which she agreed we did not want to eat, but she also said it was just a song (see how they use these things to brainwash kids, the idea that farming is all sweetness and light all you have to do is ask a hen nicely for an egg?).
I am so upset about the mixed messages my daughter is getting, with the school promoting the eating of eggs by making the children sing this song. She knows we do not agree with it, so I am worried as to how she might be feeling in case she thinks I might be cross or upset with her for singing it today with the other children (I wouldn't blame her obviously, she is only 5 years old, and I hold the teachers and headteacher 100% responsible for being so completely disrespectful and insensitive to my beliefs about animal exploitation). My daughter is so good about asking if things are vegan and totally accepts we are vegan so as not to harm animals, all three children do do far and are not rebelling against it, I think because we have never just said we are vegan but we have explained although not graphically, that animals suffer in the process so they all seem to see the sense in why we are a vegan family. But I am terribly upset about the conflicting pressures on my daughter in this situation, because she is too young to explain to the teachers that we are not happy about her having to sing an egg eating song. My main concern is that the whole thing, which should have been a happy occasion, might have caused her some anxiety today! She ran over and gave me a big hug right after the Easter hat parade, before returning to her classroom, and I am wondering if this was in part because she was seeking some reassurance that I was not mad with her for singing an anti-vegan song! most of the kids did not rush up to their mums for a big hug, but stayed in line like little soldiers. Maybe I am reading too much into it and she would probably do that anyway, she does tend to do this which is lovely and spontaneous, but I don't know if she is feeling some anxiety about my possible disapproval. I don't want this for her and am so mad with the school for putting us through this.
What would other parents do in this situation, and can anyone think of any Easter songs I can suggest for next year which would not be offensive?