About Dissection & Vivisection in the Classroom : Animalearn

Animalearn: animals, ethics, and education

What's Wrong with Dissection and Vivisection?> Choosing NOT to Harm Animals in the Classroom> Laws and Legislation (K-12)> How to Create a Student Choice Policy (College/University)> FAQs> Dissection Issues>

What's Wrong with Dissection & Vivisection?
Every year, millions of animals are dissected or vivisected (to cut into a living being) in schools and universities. It is estimated that 170 animal species or more are used for dissection and vivisection. Cats, frogs, fetal pigs, grasshoppers, mink, earthworms, rats, mice, dogs, pigeons, and turtles are just some of the many species used.
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Choosing NOT to Harm Animals in the Classroom
For many students, harming animals for educational purposes is a violation of deeply held principles and ethics. The students have a right not to be forced to violate their beliefs in order to receive a quality education. They are entitled, and should be encouraged to speak up when asked to do something that violates their ethics.
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Laws and Legislation (K-12)
Dissection choice laws usually apply to kindergarten through high school, and allow students to refuse to participate in classroom exercises–particularly dissections–that harm animals. These laws usually require the school to notify students and/or their parents at the beginning of a course when animal dissection is part of its curriculum, and they are intended to allow students the right to choose humane alternatives, without being penalized for doing so.
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How to Create a Student Choice Policy at the College/University Level
If you have concerns about dissection or vivisection at college, or university, speak to other students and see if they share similar concerns. If other students share your views on animal dissection, you should consider developing a student choice policy. As a group, you could choose to write a petition in support of a student's right to opt for alternatives over traditional dissection.
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FAQs
How many animals are dissected every year?
A reasonable estimate is that about six million vertebrate animals are dissected yearly in U.S. high schools alone, with an additional, unknown number used in colleges and middle and elementary schools.
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Dissection Issues
Environmental Hazards
Chemicals used to preserve dead specimens; such as formaldehyde and formalin (diluted form of formaldehyde) are respiratory irritants, carcinogenic in humans, and environmental pollutants. Careless or irresponsible disposal of these preservatives or animal remains can contaminate water and soil and potentially harm wildlife.
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