Three blind mice. See how they run.
They all ran after the farmer’s wife.
She cut off their tails with a carving knife.
Did you ever see such a sight in your life
As three blind mice?
Forchildrenbroughtuponthesestoriesandrhymestherewas
no inconsistencybetween what theywere taughtand what
theyate.Today,however,suchstoriesandrhymeshavegone
outoffashion,andonthesurfaceallissweetnessandlight,so
faraschildren’sattitudestoanimalsareconcerned.Therebya
problem has arisen: What about the animals we eat?
Oneresponsetothisproblemissimpleevasion.Thechild’s
affectionforanimalsisdirectedtowardanimalsthatarenot
eaten:dogs,cats,andothercompanionanimals.Thesearethe
animalsthatanurbanorsuburbanchildismostlikelytosee.
Cuddly,
stuffedtoyanimalsaremorelikelytobebearsorlionsthan
pigsorcows.Whenfarmanimalsarementionedinpicture
books,stories,andonchildren’stelevisionshows,however,
evasionmaybecomeadeliberateattempttomisleadchildren
aboutthenatureofmodernfarms,andsotoscreenthemfrom
therealitythatweexaminedinChapter3.Anexampleofthis
isthepopularHallmarkbookFarmAnimals,whichpresents
thechildwithpicturesofhens,turkeys,cows,andpigs,all
surroundedbytheiryoung,withnotacage,shed,orstallin
sight.Thetexttellsusthatpigs“enjoyagoodmeal,thenroll
inthemudandletoutasqueal!”while“Cowsdon’thavea