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| Agree | 51% | 575 votes | Total: 1124 votes | |
| Disagree | 49% | 549 votes |
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Add to FavoritesHaving worn the label of "Animal Rights Person" for most of my life, the issue of animal dissection in schools is definitely a concern of mine.
I believe it to be morally and ethically wrong to force a child to dissect any animal especially against their will. Having attended two schools at which it was a requirement rather than a choice; I recall the dread and Moral debate within myself as I searched the corridors of my mind for any excuse to be sick enough to avoid school that day. Having failed to find a good excuse; I recall the guilt; the anger and hatred for those who forced me to commit such an immoral and unethical act.
I remember the rage at a classmate who thought it was funny to bounce the frog eyeballs on her desk while she made jokes.. I wanted so much to slap her silly. And yes, teachers allow this sort of joking to go on in a classroom!
The Earth and its beings are not here for us to continuously destroy without regard for the species depletion or it's value to the Environment. Each of us, from human to the tiniest insect has its part in the very life of the planet, itself. Were it not for the bees pollinating plants; we would not have the beautiful flora around us. I'll bet no one will complain about that delicious honey they have in the morning on their biscuits or toast!
Studies are now being conducted with regard to various kids of venom and their ability to cure cancer. If we were to kill off all of the snakes so that people can wear beautiful boots and vests; do you suppose that there would be enough venom to cure very many? Fortunately, snakes don't have to die for their venom to be utilized, but they do every day for the greedy clothing industry.
As with tigers, leopards, chinchillas, rabbits, and various other beautiful beings whop populate our world. But, is it right to force a child to slice up one of these beautiful creatures, wasting the body parts over and over when we already have sufficient documentation to teach them about the anatomy of animals? I don't think so. This is an inhumane waste of our natural resources and harmful to our environment not to mention to the children who would otherwise object to doing it. And if you don't think that it is harmful to those who do want to slice up Skippy the frog or his friend Linus the cat than think again! How many mis-guided children are out there being taught by their "Hunter" relatives, to enjoy a good kill? The prisons are full of people who enjoyed dissecting small animals too much in school, so much that they thought it might be fun to try it on humans, as they got older. Does anyone really know what such a heinous act does to the mind of a child who is not psychologically ready to deal with dissection? Or who is not inclined towards harming animals? The bottom line is that we do not!
History has proved, time and time again that human beings destroy more than any other creature on the planet and with no regard for the aftereffects. Isn't it about time that we stopped destroying everything in our paths? Stopped teaching children to destroy. The effects of Global Warming have shown us what happens when humankind destroys too much of too many species.
Animal dissection in schools is not only a waste of the various species, but can lead to the depletion of these species in the long term. The frogs that control so well the insects, which we detest landing on our lovely picnic lunches or eating up our crops, may end up being extinct. It doesn't take a genius to figure out the massive damage that uncontrolled insects will do to add to the hunger in the world once the crops are destroyed by them. While a frog survives on insects, mankind certainly does not need to survive by wasting millions of frog, cat, snake, mouse, guinea pig or rabbit bodies. It is just not a necessity in our modern "Information Age". It's time to stop the waste and devastation and teach children to save the planet and species rather than to destroy it.
Learn more about this author, M. L. Kiser.
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Disagree
You're about to go for a routine operation. As a relatively minor problem, you get a junior doctor. As luck would have it, you're his first patient. He tells you not to be nervous - he's seen plenty of diagrams in his time.As he cuts you open, his eyes widen. "What's this floppy purple thing?" he wonders to himself.
The above situation is never likely to happen, thanks to a school system that allows students to get hands on experience with both animal and human dissection. Whilst the more in-depth studies are required only of medical students - those training to become doctors or veterinarians - all students are required to have a basic of understanding of biology, As part of this study, a small amount of animal dissection is introduced.
Why is this beneficial? Firstly, a textbook diagram is often colourless, simplistic and iconic. A diagram of a heart bears little resemblance to an actual heart. By showing students the difference between what is shown in their textbooks and what is the reality of an organ, students will gain a deeper understanding of how bodies work, as well as gaining an appreciation for the complexity of living organisms, and the systems that keep them alive.
A second benefit is to draw students in. Textbook learning, while useful, can often leave students bored and forgetful. Animal dissection, in contrast, is memorable and exciting. As an example, when in school, I witnessed the dissection of a bulls eye. Although we had been studying eyes for some time, nothing had really stuck with me until that lesson. Even now, some fifteen years after that lesson, I can still remember what I learned. Equally, in a biology class we dissected a lung. This lung bore very little resembelance to the diagram in my book, but as the teacher explained what they were doing, I gradually made the connections between the processes described in that textbook, and the organ in front of me.
The argument against animal dissection is that it is disturbing and condones cruelty to animals. Whilst some children may not be ready for such a lesson, this is easily circumvented. Students have the right to request an alternative form of the material, and skip the dissection. Unless you are studying a field in which it is required (such as medicine) in which case it is possible you are aiming for the wrong career!
As for condoning cruelty to animals - the question of whether more animals may be saved by a well-trained and experienced vet as opposed to one who has only the knowledge acquired from books to draw on has to be asked. The fact is that animals have always been bred and used by humans for specific purposes, including food and research. Education is a relatively minor facet of animal use, and a relatively humane one. It makes little difference to an animal whether it dies and is used for dissection in a school, dies being run over by a large car, or dies getting eaten by a predator. But it does make a difference to the students learning, and to the people who will later benefit from that learning.
The skills students develop from dissection extend beyond learning about biology. They develop their observation and comparison skills, and gain a greater appreciation for the sheer complexity of life. Science becomes something real and applicable, as opposed to theory and academia. The indirect benefits of such a world view are too numerous to list.
Learn more about this author, Suzanne Fleming.
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