Goldfish go down hard for school and PETA

By ERICA HALL

The Mirror

Federal Way Public Schools superintendent Tom Murphy issued a statement of regret to the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals on Monday after two Todd Beamer High School students swallowed live goldfish during a Sept. 20 school assembly.

According to a PETA spokeswoman, the animal rights organization was notified of the incident by other students who were at the rally. PETA representatives contacted Murphy.

The two Beamer class officers weren’t disciplined for swallowing the goldfish, but school district officials directed all school principals to be on the lookout for and put a stop to any instances of animal cruelty.

“I’ll be reminding all the principals about what’s appropriate,” assistant superintendent Mark Davidson said Monday afternoon. “Frankly, it’s not an appropriate way to treat live animals.”

PETA director Debbie Leahy thanked Murphy for taking the issue seriously.

“At a time when violence in our schools has become a national issue, there is no place for stunts like swallowing goldfish, which have the effect of desensitizing students to the suffering of others,” Leahy said.

In addition to the cruelty inflicted on the goldfish, PETA representatives pointed out humans can contract tape worms or other diseases or parasites from ingesting live fish.

School district spokeswoman Diane Turner said the incident followed promises made by the class officers during their campaigns last year, during which the candidates told their friends, “If they voted for them, they’d eat goldfish.’ This was the first (Beamer) assembly and, much to the chagrin of (school) staff, they kept their campaign promise.”

There reportedly were about 100 students in attendance.

Turner said the incident presented school officials with an opportunity to teach “respect for others and the environment, but also health hazards. These are good kids, and they made a bad decision.”

Staff writer Erica Hall: 925-5565, ehall@fedwaymirror.com

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