Vegetarian Agenda

Strange as it may seem, the kids at the preschool get a pretty vigorous educational work out. Nursery rhymes, big and small, taking turns.

And at some point, each child gets a lesson in “things” and “purpose”.

“This is a hat. What do you do with a hat? Do you eat a hat? Noooo. You wear a hat. Where does a hat go? On your head! Right! Very good friend!”

Coats, shirts, shoes. All things you wear.

Then there is food.

“What is this? It’s a banana! What do we do with a banana? We eat it! Right friend, very good!”

I feel it’s only fair to note that in the beginning children were introduced to a VERY hungry turtle. Once the children properly identified an object in a picture; say a comb, or a truck, they would feed the item to the very hungry turtle. I’ll tell you, that was one deprived testudinata. It ate combs all morning.

So the idea of food and what can be eaten, particularly as it pertained to something other than a human, has a pretty wide definition.

Soon after, the young charges were asked to differentiate between food and other items.

Remember, they have recently witnessed a turtle that eats combs.

“What’s this? Is it a sheep? What do sheep say? Are sheep food or an animal? An animal. We don’t eat sheep, do we?….”

Wait. What?

Though I am not a regular red meat consumer, I have sampled lamb and other “exotic” meats. Maybe a rosemary and olive oil braised shank isn’t in the culinary repertoire of most 2-4 year olds, but what purpose does it serve to make a false distinction?

I mean, what happens when the kid finally learns that part of the hamburger in the fast food meal came from something else that once was called cow and said moo? Or that the family’s celebration roast comes from what was once called sheep and teacher said was NOT food.

No, definitely not food.

It is understandable if teacher doesn’t want to be the one responsible for breaking the news that some food once stood in the field while a buss full of children tried to call to it in its own language. All rheumy-eyed and slow looking.

The food that is.

But if it’s a topic too gruesome for young years, or too sensitive to broach during a simple lesson in things and purpose, maybe its better to just go for the full on vegetarian agenda? Don’t even include animals in the options.

Just those poor, innocent veggies. All green and unassuming.

And fer cryin’ out loud. Feed them to that poor turtle.