Kids Pose With Dead Animals and Guns for Yearbook—and PETA’s Time Capsule?
PETA Seeks Copy of Hunter-Filled Nebraska Yearbook to Shock Future Generations With Evidence That Schools Promoted Violence
For Immediate Release:
October 24, 2014
Contact:
Sophia Charchuk 202-483-7382
Broken Bow High School’s yearbook can now include photos of students with weapons and the bodies of the animals they have killed with them—and PETA wants a copy. In a letter sent this afternoon to the Nebraska school’s superintendent, PETA explains that it wants to place the yearbook in a time capsule along with a fur collar and other items that the group believes will be recognized as relics of a history of cruelty to animals by the time that the time capsule is opened.
In its letter, PETA—whose motto reads, in part, that “animals are not ours to abuse in any way”—notes that future generations will be shocked by the idea that a school once condoned violence, especially in light of the school shootings that have taken place in recent years. These shootings were often carried out by students who had a history of abusing animals.
“When PETA’s time capsule is opened, people will be disturbed by the idea that a school would send kids the message that it’s OK to be proud of killing other living beings for fun,” says PETA President Ingrid Newkirk. “Future generations will be shocked to learn that hunting was legal in this time—in the same way that people are appalled that bear-baiting and human slavery were once acceptable since they are now universally recognized as reprehensible.”
For more information, please visit PETA.org.
PETA’s letter to Broken Bow Public Schools Superintendent Mark Sievering follows.
October 24, 2014
Mark Sievering
Superintendent
Broken Bow Public Schools
Dear Mr. Sievering,
I am writing as a mother and on behalf of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) and our more than 3 million members and supporters, including thousands across Nebraska, regarding news that the Broken Bow Board of Education has voted to allow pictures of students posing with weapons as well as the animals they have killed with them in your high school yearbook. We think a copy of the book would be a powerful addition to a PETA time capsule that we are planning to bury soon, and so we are asking you to furnish a copy of the yearbook to us for this purpose. The time capsule will include a fur collar, a set of shackles used to chain elephants exploited by the circus, and other items representing abysmally cruel practices that future generations will be shocked to learn were allowed in this time, just as today human slavery, which was once common, is now universally recognized as reprehensible.
Your yearbook would be a relevant inclusion to our capsule since generations to come will almost certainly be incredulous at the idea that a school would teach children that hurting and killing other living beings is acceptable—especially in light of the horrific school shootings that have taken place in the late 20th and early 21st centuries. (You may be unaware that studies by the FBI, psychiatrists, and sociologists have demonstrated that children who abuse animals are more likely to be violent toward human beings later in life.) We would also include information about how animals who are shot by hunters are often injured and left to die slowly of blood loss, infection, or dehydration. Frankly, it’s shocking in this day and age that “educators” would endorse the idea that it’s OK to teach children not to respect and be in awe of wildlife but instead to hurt and kill animals as part of a “game” or “sport.”
Please let me know if you will send me a copy when it’s published and what the cost will be. Thank you.
Sincerely,
Tracy Reiman
Executive Vice President
