Visit to local hunt kennels facing prosecution by primary school - WWYD

[Lakeylady]

Just that really. We had an email from school on Friday saying that the children would be going on a countryside learning day in 10 days to a nearby estate. Just that, no more info. I looked up the organisation running it over the weekend and they are a charity that promotes countryside sports. As part of the day there was a farm tour which sounded ok, then a gamekeeper tour when they learn about animal traps and pest control, which I am not particularly ok about but it is legal. Final bit was a tour of the kennels. The master and whipper in of this particular hunt are being prosecuted at the moment for illegal hunting and there have been news stories about their questionable animal welfare. This I am unhappy about which I let the school know about and I also contacted the countryside sports charity and said I didn’t think primary school children should visit an organisation being investigated when it would be their staff showing them round.
The school have cancelled the visit (I only asked for them not to do the hunt kennels bit but the organisation said my child would have to stand to one side with a member of their staff) but the chair of governors has written me a letter saying I have spoilt a nice day out.
I am so upset, I feel like some of the parents will blame me for standing up for my convictions but I feel this trip would have been wrong on lots of levels let alone breaking the political impartiality code. Meanwhile we have the National Arborteum on our doorstep and we haven’t done a trip there.

I have been to Amsterdam as a kid and it hasn't scarred me for life 😂 If you don't like the trip, don't let your kid go. Why make a big song and dance about it and stop others from going?

Ostracised?? What bullshit. I grew up on a farm in Devon, loathe hunting and was definitely not ostracised. Only one girl in our year at school was pro hunting and she was given a very hard time. I'm guessing though you're actually involved in some way and struggle to comprehend that many, many people even in your own community don't actually agree with what you do.

The OP didn't ask for your child not to attend, she drew attention to the fact they were being investigated for breaking the law. But that awkward fact doesn't suit your narrative does it?

What a bizarre post. Were you really taken to visit a red light district as a child? If you think that's acceptable then I'd suggest maybe you have more problems than you realise.

I would have kicked up a stink about a trip like that as well.

Op
I think this will be polarising for you in your community. Half the parents will think you're a interfering busy body and the other half will think you were dead right.
Considering you have a child in the school i would leave it here now in case it impacts her .
In small communities it is unlikely that the reason for the cancellation is unknown .

@Tara336 fox hunting is the last hurrah of the aristocracy riding roughshod over the peasants. They can attempt to frame it as a necessary rural pursuit, keeping vermin down, what about the workers (hah! Only time that phrase passes their lips) and what about our poor dogs blah blah as much as they like but it's solely about privilege and nobody telling them what to do. Hunting with packs of dogs is illegal. The majority of people find it disgusting. It will continue as long as those sadists who enjoy it wish it to continue because its an elitist practice and they do what they like. And attempt to reframe it as something acceptable whenever possible. Hence a 'school trip'. We'll done OP.

@newnamethanks I'm.not sure I 100% agree about the class thing, there are ordinary people that hunt too. I ride and know people that have been hunting (yes it did affect my view of them when I found out) and they are definitely not aristocracy or loaded with money. I couldn't give a damm who does it, but they are doing that offends me.

No, you didn't ruin the school trip and I would be taking the fact of being accused of that further. The bloody nerve!
What idiot thought a school trip involving such a contentious issue was a good idea?

I'm so angry on your behalf, op.
There is no way I would allow my children to be fed the bullshit propaganda they would no doubt be exposed to on the day.
The vast majority of the country know hunting is wrong, drag hunting is a cover for illegal hunting, and the bigwigs are protected by their powerful mates when it comes to prosecutions.
I'd be pulling out all the stops on this.

@Lakeylady you came her to ask for peoples opinions, people have given you those.

I'm 100% anti hunting, and if my DC school had planned a day like this, my decision would be simple, they would stay home! Not everyone thinks like you and you have indeed ruined what could have been a fun and somewhat educational day for children from families who don't share your convictions.

I used to volunteer with girl guiding during my time studying in London (the group was from just outside London), we arranged a visit to the Tower of London during a 1 night stay in central London, 1 parent said their child couldn't go inside as it was were people were murdered, so the entire group had to miss out on a visit to a historical and educational (not to mention beautiful!) place and the kids completely blamed the one child for ruining their trip.

@Mommabear20
I have read all the opinions with interest. Did you miss the bit about the staff who would be doing the school trip facing a criminal conviction? Here is an article about it. Very happy to stand up and say I don’t think any of the children should be taught by them, not just my own. Seems to be the consensus on this thread too.
www.wiltsglosstandard.co.uk/news/20141234.two-members-beaufort-hunt-charged-illegal-hunting/

Yeah, cos that’s exactly the same thing as a school trip to an organisation facing criminal charges 🙄

Thank god for people like the OP and the other school who have stood up and said no to this.