"There's no other way to learn biology."
Hopefully biology classrooms across the state will soon be more tolerant of students' beliefs.
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| Dissection Choice | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "You're just being squeamish." "There's no other way to learn biology." |
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| These are some of the objections students face when they request alternatives to dissecting animals in science class. Often, they are forced to dissect or are penalized for refusing to dissect. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Why do students object? Many believe it's wrong to kill an animal simply for a middle- or high school biology demonstration. Others object to the treatment of animals during preparation for dissection, depletion of wildlife populations, or the disrespect for life shown in the classroom. |
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| The Ethical Science & Educaton Coaliton (ESEC) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Alternatives to dissection include computer programs, models, and videos. In general, they are cheaper than buying preserved animals each year, because they can be reused. Some are free, either from websites or from animal-welfare groups' loan libraries. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| (from www.neavs.org/esec) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Dissection choice legislation would allow students who believe it is unethical to dissect the option of different assignments. Massachusetts House Bill 1252, reintroduced this legislative session after a narrow defeat last year, would "require all public schools that offer dissection as a learning activity to permit those students who choose not to participate in dissection to be allowed to demonstrate competency through an alternative method." Teachers would still be free to use dissection as a method of teaching; they would simply have to accomodate students' ethical beliefs and concerns. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Students who support dissection choice can help the Ethical Science and Education Coalition (ESEC) get H. 1252 passed by filling out testimony forms, available at www.neavs.org/esec, about their experiences with dissection. Also, we can thank our state senator, Cheryl Jacques, for co-sponsoring the bill. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Hopefully biology classrooms across the state will soon be more tolerant of students' beliefs. |
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