An Easter “gift” transformed into a national case. In a chartered school in the province of Naples with offices in Cesa, Aversa and Giugliano in Campania, around sixty live chicks were delivered to the children as an Easter gift, distributed to the families in cardboard boxes. A gesture that, inevitably, ended up at the center of a social storm and an avalanche of criticism.
The chicks would have been purchased with a regular invoice and then given to families without caring whether they had the skills to take care of them. And the complaints started right from the parents with many saying they didn’t know how to manage them, underlining that the chicks need constant heat, specific care and adequate space to survive.
The protests: “They are not toys”
The social reaction was immediate. In comments and posts shared online, there has been talk of lives being treated like objects, distributed to very young children with no guarantees of their well-being. Some families said they suddenly found themselves with fragile animals at home, without clear instructions on feeding and maintenance.
The most widespread fear concerns the fate of the chicks: without heating lamps and without skills, many risk not surviving. Others may be abandoned or destined to become farm animals without adequate conditions. The main criticism concerns the educational message: transforming a living being into an Easter gadget.
Posts deleted and families divided
After the controversy erupted, the school deleted stories and re-shares related to the initiative, while confrontation between parents sparked in the comments. Some argue that it was possible to choose whether or not to accept the chick, others dispute that the proposal itself was inappropriate, especially in a school context.
The removal of social content did not stop the discussion, which quickly spread. Many users expressed indignation, speaking of a wrong educational message and asking for clarification on who authorized the initiative.
The educational issue and respect for animals
The case immediately reignited the debate on the use of animals in school contexts. The ministerial guidelines on civic education invite us to promote conscious care and respect for living beings, avoiding activities that may trivialize their value. The exact opposite, therefore, of what happened in this case. Giving away live chicks risks conveying the idea that life can be purchased and distributed like an object. Education to respect also involves concrete choices, especially when it is the little ones who learn,
Indeed, donating live animals without a criterion – LAV says – can lead to the integration of the crime of incompatible detention pursuant to art. 727 of the Penal Code, if the methods of maintaining the chicks by the families cause serious suffering. For the moment the school is not saying anything, but only one question remains open: what will happen to these animals when the initial enthusiasm passes? We prefer not to think about it.
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