A Sandpoint Charter student's perspective

One sunny October morning, a large majority of students, including myself, went on a field trip to watch a steer get slaughtered. We were given a choice, go or don’t go.

Basically, our intentions were to learn about how we get meat; and for those who wanted to pursue a veterinarian career, what kind of organs there were, and what they did.

It was a hands-on experience if you will. Quite literally, we passed around a couple different organs, such as the heart and the liver. I didn’t stay for the whole thing but I have seen this kind of thing before.

The kill was quick. As soon as the bullet hit the skull, the steer was dead so it was a clean shot. Then we took it over to a truck and started the dissection. The veterinarian who was doing this did not use a chainsaw as stated by Robin Helm, but rather, a tool used for the exact purpose of science.

I will admit that I was among the group that went back to the school, because after a while it just got kind of old. I learned from this that killing an animal is OK as long as you eat it.

It is my personal opinion that in order to get the nutrition we need, something has to die: whether it’s a plant or an animal. Food comes from the living, and that’s how it’s been for millions of years.

CALVIN AERNI

Sandpoint