Put down the knife

Vegetarian Times, Feb, 1998 by Kelly James-Enger

Dissection alternatives are at the cutting edge of biology classes.

I'm a high school sophomore, studying biology this term, and I just found out that we're supposed to dissect a frog and a fetal pig in class. I'm a vegetarian; I don't want to dissect animals. What can I do?--Concerned Student, Madison, Wis.

It's wonderful that you are so caring and concerned about animal rights. And you should know that you're not alone. Each month, the National Anti-Vivisection Society's (NAYS) dissection hotline fields more than a thousand calls from students, like you, who are looking for animal-friendly ways to learn about biology and science. "Although only 2 percent to 4 percent of students will actually request a dissection alternative, when they are offered one, one third to one half of them will choose it," says Pat Davis, founder and director of the 10-year-old hotline. Those numbers are expected to jump exponentially given that last year the Humane Society of the United States launched a national anti-dissection campaign, and that dissection is being introduced earlier in some states' curriculum--even second-graders are being asked to dissect.

YOUR RIGHT TO OBJECT

Today, anti-dissectionists have legal precedent on their side--unlike a decade ago when student resistance was terra incognita. "A student's right to object [to dissection] is being increasingly recognized in schools across the country," says Gary Francione, co-founder with Anna Charlton of the Rutgers Animal Rights Law Center at Rutgers University in New Jersey. Since 1990, Francione and Charlton have represented more than 50 students who refused to dissect in class. Every case has settled before trial. "Teachers and schools don't want to take this issue to court," Francione says. "Ninety percent of cases are resolved before a lawsuit is filed."

Some states uphold the right not to dissect--Rhode Island law gives parents the right to object on a student's behalf; in California, Florida, New York and Pennsylvania, a school must offer students an alternative to classroom dissection. Similar laws are pending in Massachusetts and Illinois.

Still, there's much you can do without going to court. If you don't want to dissect, talk to your teacher as soon as you discover dissection is a class requirement--don't wait until the day of the assignment. Explain that you're uncomfortable dissecting animals, and suggest an alternative. Be respectful, but be firm.

This may be the first time you've stood up for something you believe in, but you don't have to do it alone. If you're nervous about approaching your teacher by yourself, arrange a conference between your teacher, yourself and your parents. Or, perhaps there are other like-minded students in your school. Form a group and present your case. If your teacher refuses to offer you an alternative, move on to the dean of students or principal. And if you still find yourself stonewalled, organizations, such as NAVS, Animalearn and the Humane Society, can offer information and assistance (see Resources). "Students who have the courage to approach a teacher will usually be accommodated. If they're not helped on the first go, then we often work with them," says Davis, adding that the hotline provides age-appropriate brochures for students interested in resisting dissection.

THE ALTERNATIVES

Fortunately, most teachers today have encountered students who object to dissection on moral grounds, says Davis; as a result, they're more adept at managing the alternatives. And it certainly helps that dissection stand-ins have come a long way since the plastic overlays in textbooks and simple wall charts of yesteryear. These days, teaching aids are very high-tech. Computer simulations are the most popular--there are dozens of programs available on CD-ROM that allow students to learn anatomy without cutting. These interactive programs also make it easier to learn Uncertain about what you're looking at? Simply click on the area and an explanation window pops up.

Three-dimensional anatomical models are another popular scalpel substitute. Several companies (see Resources) make models for every animal regularly used in dissection: fetal pigs, cats, frogs, sharks, even earthworms. Detailed charts, slides, transparencies and books also can help you learn about animal biology in noninvasive ways. While a well-rounded education is important for preparing young people for college and beyond, a healthy dose of compassion for other living things also has its place in the classroom.

Kelly James-Enger is a free-lance writer who lives in Morris, III.

Resources

Organizations that sell dissection alternatives:

Ventura Educational Systems, (800) 336-1022 Carolina Biological Supply Company, (910) 584-0381

Ward's Natural Science, (716) 359-2502

If your school won t invest in dissection alternatives, the following organizations loan their equipment, free of charge:

National Anti-Vivisection Society, (800) 888-NAVS; Hotline (800) 922-FROG

American Anti-Vivisection Society's Animalearn, (800) 729-2287