An 11-year-old boy from Birmingham was forced to eat grass by a group of bullies in one of the most ruthless cases of bullying this year.
Jack Shanahan, the 11-year-old boy, said he hasn’t eaten meat for 3 years, just like all his siblings and parents.
Jack cleared out that he stopped eating meat on his own will.
Lee Hales, his father, said, “We have never forced our views on the kids. What they want to do, and what they want to be, has always been their decision.”
Earlier this month, Jack was in his school when he got into an argument with kids at his school about the way he eats.
According to Lee, the Archbishop Ilsley Catholic School in Acocks Green in Birmingham treats his son like he is the one who has problems.
Lee, who works as a warehouse worker, said the argument broke out after Jack was teased and told to eat grass.
Jack tried to explain that eating meat increases the risk of getting cancer.
After the incident, Jack was reprimanded by a teacher.
Lee, the father of the boy, said the school said his son could be segregated.
The family was also suggested to shift the boy into a new school.
Talking about the incident, Lee said, “Kids will be kids, we realize that, but they can also be cruel. But frankly, I’m shocked by the way is school is handling the situation.”
Lee and Helen Shanahan, his wife, are vegans and have a level 3 qualification in nutrition and personal training.
Due to the constant bullying at the Archbishop Ilsley Catholic School in Acocks Green, Jack has been pretending to be ill from time to time due to the bullying.
Lee talked about the situation and said, “It’s got so bad he is now pretending to be ill just to avoid school. This has been going on for three months. He is one of the brightest in his class, but sensitive. I have raised concerns before with the school, but most of the time when we contact them, they tend not to contact us back.”
Lee added, “The comment he made this week was his way of defending himself. Unlike Jack, I will not concern myself over the health of the families whose children are making Jack’s school life difficult. ‘This is a very serious matter and, personally, I think the school should be ashamed.”
Lee continued, “To say that I am angry is an understatement. I am at the end of my tether. Sadly, this is what vegans face in society. You get silly comments, you get silly questions, and you get that look from people.”
One good thing is that the school is offering specialized meals so they can cater to the needs of little Jack.
The spokesperson for the school refused to release a comment about the case of Jack.
The spokesperson did say that they take bullying as a serious matter.