Trouble at school today

[coonhunter3]

I was talking with my friends about this weekend and what I had trapped. Well my teacher Mrs. Carberry let me have it so bad that my hair kinda went on end. She told me trapping is cruel and I was barbarickle. I didn't knoow what to say, i was at a loss for words. She told me she helps the animals shelter.

When I got home I told my mom about what heppened and she said to keep my mouth shut. my dad was always an outdoors man he didn't trap but his friend did and that was where I learned a little but whenthey had the accident and both passed I don;t have anyone who can totallly help me out. I know he would have gone to school for me but mom doesnt want to start at the school.

mom had asled me maybe I should give it up until I get older. now I get my license to drive in 9 months. I don't know what to do and really don't want to go to homeroom tomorrow.

[trappnman]

what you do- is tell her this-

that many animal reintroduction prgorams- like fisher, otter, wolves were al ldone using foothold traps- and trappers made these reintroductions possible.

and tell her, that this country was opened up by an honorable trade- fur trapping.

and that a wildlife management tool, trapping is ranked right up there if not #1 for managment purposes for predators and other "non edible animals"

and finally- and do this at your own risk-
tell her I trap fur, I'm proud of it- and if you don't like it, you can kiss my furry arse.....................

but seriously- don't apologise to anyone if they don't understand, don't waste your time explaining

yet- and I'm a troublemaker- you might wish to debate her in the hypocricy of wearing leather and eating at Mickey D's

or- what I'd do- is nothing-

screw her-

be proud- you are a trapper-

[packerfan]

I wear fur and eat meat.......................Don't like it, stop watching me.

[seitzinger]

Write her an essay on the benefits of trapping (some pointed out by steve) to the enviroment she is apperantly so eager to save. But before you hand it to her have the class witness a promise that she well read the entire essay and give a thought to what you worked so hard to do. At the end of your essay explain your situation and love of the outdoors and the heritage in the trapping society. You keep your head up and don't let those nasty leftest get to you, kill her with kindness.

[musher]

I think that you should POLITELY let your teacher know that you are engaged in a time honoured, legitimate, legal activity that she obviously knows very little about. You could then add that her profession is to teach and not to judge.

You could follow up with a similar conversation with the school principal. In that conversation you should mention that you were made uncomfortable with her judgemental, negative comments and that further similar comments would be harrassement.

Your local DU, or similar hunting/trapping organization could be a useful ally. The school student advisor might be also. Don't allow anyone to make you feel uncomfortable in school. It's tough to learn when you aren't happy.

Or make your Mom happy, shrug it off, and realize that you learned that some adults are judgemental idiots that feel that it's o.k. to bully people.

[arrow1]

You got plenty of good advice above. Get used to it in today's world. Trappers are a minority, prepare to be able to support your beliefs and protect your rights. If you are engaging in legal activities (ie. trapping) which you are licensed and given the privilege by the state to enjoy do not feel guilty and you do not need to defend yourself to anyone. Good luck. High school and college I was called "trapper". Whatever, that's who I am.

[hd56pan]

Its Legal,Keeps me off the streets,And help to maintain a balance in nature.Mother Nature is the most cruel and barbaric force on the face of the earth

[Happy Plumber]

Coonhunter, I read your article while I was on the net and also brouseing through the American Hunter magazine. What she is doing is useing her position to browbeat you which is a case of discrimination. Contact your "Principal" and let him/her know the situation. . If you get no satisfaction, contact the NRA and they will go to bat for you. Contact Wayne LePierre at www.nra-active.org or call [phone]. This will nip this in the bud. You could get national recognition for this. HP

[collins]

Tell her you are a comsumptive user of wildlife, and proud of it. Ask her is should could provide food or clothing for her family with out a store?

[ksboy2]

go talk to her.. tell her that you respect her views and yours are just not the same... if she is any kind of a teacher she'll respect you for it

[mustelameister]

Find out what her home address is and give her a gift subscription to Fur-Fish-Game.

[Rally Hess]

Do you have any Gusto??

[BadDog]

One point that animal welfare people understand is that you are Nature's "Humane Society" and that you simply remove the excess wild animals that nobody wants, that they are destroyed just like her unwanted pets, and that it is irresponsible as a lover of wildlife to let wild animal populations get out of control and die the horrible deaths of disease that nature dishes out. Perhaps her little group could go out and neuter all the wild animals so that you would not have to manage the excess population by trapping. Only after she and her buddies bring wildlife populations into check will you think about stopping your beneficial activities.

You can point out that all the pets nobody wants are killed and completely wasted and that you don't waste your animals.

I doubt that she will listen. Don't quit trapping just to please anti-trappers. Quit if you have something more interesting or exciting to do, but only because you want to and not to please anybody else.

Musher's comment is good. She is not supposed to judge. Heck she is supposed to be objective and pass that onto you.

[RiverRat]

Dec 20, 2010 22:56:01 GMT -6 Rally Hess said:

Do you have any Gusto??

[minaskaoutdoors]

"She told me she helps the animals shelter"


Well you would think if she did that very long she would have seen what a lap dog looks like after a coyote attack...... Or maybe not if it was eaten.

Here are just a few examples.

www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/celebritynews/5783987/Ozzy-Osbournes-pet-dog-eaten-by-coyote.html

www.associatedcontent.com/article/2177141/jessica_simpsons_dog_daisy_taken_by.html

[lumberjack]

She should be proud of a kid that takes initiative to do something hands-on. With all the kids on drugs, playing computer games with a cell phone welded to their face and all.
Tell her you are thinning the animals out so that the ones remaining have more food/quality of life and a healthier existence.

[thorsmightyhammer]

My guess is you are not going to change her mind.

I'd talk to the principal and explain the situation and tell him what you are doing is legal and you dont appreciate being chastised.

[seldom]

I've worked with several dozen young scientists and students from all over the world on a project that required trapping both lethal and non an about 3/4 of the crew were anti to some degree. I've found that I've never been able to turn an anti regardless of who they were or status in the world.

Oh sure, you can debate the devil out of them but all you'll get are vast amounts of assumptiveness and sanctimoniousism especially the formally educated anti. The more you debate those types, the more blah-blah you get! Too many of that kind as well as your "everyday" variety of anti have a tendency to put human feelings and personalities on animals.
Due to that simple fact alone, it's been my experience that you can not win!!!

As Rally says....

Dec 20, 2010 22:56:01 GMT -6 Rally Hess said:

Do you have any Gusto??

[gman]

I like what Rally said but I'd use pure quill. AND if you need some I'm sure all you have to do is ask!

[blackhammer]

Dec 21, 2010 6:07:49 GMT -6 @seldom said:

I've worked with several dozen young scientists and students from all over the world on a project that required trapping both lethal and non an about 3/4 of the crew were anti to some degree. I've found that I've never been able to turn an anti regardless of who they were or status in the world.

Oh sure, you can debate the devil out of them but all you'll get are vast amounts of assumptiveness and sanctimoniousism especially the formally educated anti. The more you debate those types, the more blah-blah you get! Too many of that kind as well as your "everyday" variety of anti have a tendency to put human feelings and personalities on animals.
Due to that simple fact alone, it's been my experience that you can not win!!!

As Rally says....

Dec 20, 2010 22:56:01 GMT -6 Rally Hess said:

Do you have any Gusto??

Well put Seldom!