HELP!!!!

[Guest guest]

Yesterday, my 14-year-old son Greg, came home from school VERY upset. It

seems that they are to do dissection of animals in his science class, I think a

fetal sheep. I have just written an email to his science teacher to request an

alternative learning activity for him, and expressing my complete support of

his unwillingness to engage in that activity.

 

I've explained that he's a vegetarian, that he is willing to do an

alternative lesson, and that his aversion is consistent with his ethics, and his

choices

on a daily basis in his life. I'm hoping it won't get any more difficult than

this, and that when I hear back, it will be a positive response.

 

But I want to be prepared if it isn't. I wonder if anybody with kids in

public schools have faced this issue? Or if anyone knows of other resources I

might

consult in case I have to advocate more strongly?

 

Any advice or direction to other resources would be most helpful.

 

Thank you!

Susie

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Suggestions for avoiding dissection

· Contact the HSUS to find out about the dissection laws in your

state, about alternative choices and how to start a campaign to change your

school

policy.

· Speak with the teacher about your concerns and see if there is the

chance of opting out or doing an alternative assignment.

· Speak with your guidance counselor and see if they can suggest other

options.

· Suggest alternatives to the teacher that may be acceptable. There

are computer programs, visual aids and charts that can be used.

· See if there are teachers for that subject that don’t require

dissection, if so try to transfer to that teacher.

· Work to change the dissection rule so that future students will be

able to opt out. Start a campaign and get other students involved and work for

creating a policy of choice.

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

there are great places you can go. the anti vivisection society and peta both

have packets for both student and teacher. also- from my understanding- his

teacher MUST give him an alternative project since this is against your beliefs.

she/he CAN NOT refuse or fail him because of that. write to or go to some of the

veggir group sites. they will have a section on this type of stuff. oh- also

mercy for animals is a student based org( I think! I am almost positive!) and I

think vegetarianteen.com has some advice on this. keep us updated. and best of

luck! c p.s. tell your son that he is a very compassionate boy and to

always fight for what he believes in. by not wanting to dissect he is doing a

great thing!

-

sdw1255<sdw1255

< >

Wednesday, November 17, 2004 9:25 AM

HELP!!!!

 

 

 

Yesterday, my 14-year-old son Greg, came home from school VERY upset. It

seems that they are to do dissection of animals in his science class, I think

a

fetal sheep. I have just written an email to his science teacher to request an

alternative learning activity for him, and expressing my complete support of

his unwillingness to engage in that activity.

 

I've explained that he's a vegetarian, that he is willing to do an

alternative lesson, and that his aversion is consistent with his ethics, and

his choices

on a daily basis in his life. I'm hoping it won't get any more difficult than

this, and that when I hear back, it will be a positive response.

 

But I want to be prepared if it isn't. I wonder if anybody with kids in

public schools have faced this issue? Or if anyone knows of other resources I

might

consult in case I have to advocate more strongly?

 

Any advice or direction to other resources would be most helpful.

 

Thank you!

Susie

 

 

[Guest guest]

Susie,

 

You may want to direct the teacher to Peta's website

http://www.teachkind.org

There's all sorts of information for parents and teachers for

alternatives to dissection and loads of other things. Peta is a great

resource for this type of thing. You may even want to consider calling

them and asking them.

 

Jodi

 

 

sdw1255 wrote:

 

>

> Yesterday, my 14-year-old son Greg, came home from school VERY upset. It

> seems that they are to do dissection of animals in his science class,

> I think a

> fetal sheep. I have just written an email to his science teacher to

> request an

> alternative learning activity for him, and expressing my complete

> support of

> his unwillingness to engage in that activity.

>

> I've explained that he's a vegetarian, that he is willing to do an

> alternative lesson, and that his aversion is consistent with his

> ethics, and his choices

> on a daily basis in his life. I'm hoping it won't get any more

> difficult than

> this, and that when I hear back, it will be a positive response.

>

> But I want to be prepared if it isn't. I wonder if anybody with kids in

> public schools have faced this issue? Or if anyone knows of other

> resources I might

> consult in case I have to advocate more strongly?

>

> Any advice or direction to other resources would be most helpful.

>

> Thank you!

> Susie

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Call PETA and PCRM they have info. about alternatives to dissection at all

grade levels. They have info. about the virtual dissection program " Operation

Frog " . I think that's the name.

Peace,

Laura in Maryland

 

sdw1255 writes:

But I want to be prepared if it isn't. I wonder if anybody with kids in

public schools have faced this issue? Or if anyone knows of other resources I

might

consult in case I have to advocate more strongly?

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

On Wed, 17 Nov 2004 sdw1255 wrote:

 

> Yesterday, my 14-year-old son Greg, came home from school VERY upset. It

> seems that they are to do dissection of animals in his science class, I think

a

> fetal sheep. I have just written an email to his science teacher to request an

> alternative learning activity for him, and expressing my complete support of

> his unwillingness to engage in that activity.

>

> I've explained that he's a vegetarian, that he is willing to do an

> alternative lesson, and that his aversion is consistent with his ethics, and

his choices

> on a daily basis in his life. I'm hoping it won't get any more difficult than

> this, and that when I hear back, it will be a positive response.

>

> But I want to be prepared if it isn't. I wonder if anybody with kids in

> public schools have faced this issue? Or if anyone knows of other resources I

might

> consult in case I have to advocate more strongly?

>

> Any advice or direction to other resources would be most helpful.

 

Public school students in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Florida, New York,

Illinois, Rhode Island, California, Louisiana and Virginia have the legal

right to refuse dissection. If you live in one of those states, you have

a major advantage. If you don't, or your son attends a private school,

there are still options, although the school is not obligated to grant

your request for an alternative.

 

There are a number of places you can find information on alternatives.

Try some of these:

 

http://www.api4animals.org/685.htm

http://www.animaland.org/asp/realissues/dissection.asp

http://www.vegfamily.com/lists/dissection-alternatives.htm

http://www.neavs.org/esec/alternatives/alt_index.htm

http://www.petakids.com/dissection_alternatives.html

http://www.dissectionalternatives.org/

 

I am currently taking a (college-level) human anatomy and physiology class

that is conducted entirely on-line and therefore involves no physical

dissection. We use an interactive CD-ROM instead. The CD is A.D.A.M.

Interactive Anatomy. <http://education.adam.com/> The class is intended

for people who are planning to pursue careers in various health care

fields. If interactive CDs are good enough for future nurse and physical

therapists, I would think they surely must be adequate for your standard

high school biology class.

 

----

Patricia Bullington-McGuire <patricia

 

The brilliant Cerebron, attacking the problem analytically, discovered

three distinct kinds of dragon: the mythical, the chimerical, and the

purely hypothetical. They were all, one might say, nonexistent, but each

nonexisted in an entirely different way ...

-- Stanislaw Lem, " Cyberiad "

[Guest guest]

At 09:25 AM 11/17/2004 -0500, you wrote:

>Yesterday, my 14-year-old son Greg, came home from school VERY upset. It

>seems that they are to do dissection of animals in his science class, I

>think a

>fetal sheep. I have just written an email to his science teacher to

>request an

>alternative learning activity for him, and expressing my complete support of

>his unwillingness to engage in that activity.

 

PETA has a guide on this subject. They were very helpful when I faced the

same issue.

 

Patty Paolini

[Guest guest]

Regarding dissection, some states have laws specifying that students have the

right to refuse dissection and do alternative exercises without any harm to

their grades. In states that don't have that provision, you can still negotiate

with the teachers. For information and ammunition, contact Animalearn at

www.animalearn.org. You can also get advice from the Ethical Science and

Education

Coalition; see below.

 

http://www.neavs.org/esec/student_concerns/sc_objecting_to_dissection_020001.h

tm

 

There are lots of educationally sound alternatives, but some teachers are

resistant to using them. You may have to be persistent, but it's worth it to

support your son's ethics and to support his rights as a student. Good luck!

 

Jill

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

This practice should be stopped. Animals should not be raised for the purpose

of dissection in a science class, when a video would teach the same thing. The

video could then be distributed to all public schools. The problems is that the

companies raising animals for this purpose would go out of business. awwww!

 

If your son's science teacher does not want to compromise, then I would allow my

child call in sick for the day.

 

I have 3 children, my son 18, daughter 10, and baby 8 months, so I will be

facing this issue as well.

 

I do understand the purpose of dissection for those special people in training

to be veterinarians....but for the rest of us...wouldn't a mere video do?

 

Adela

 

 

sdw1255 wrote:

 

Yesterday, my 14-year-old son Greg, came home from school VERY upset. It

seems that they are to do dissection of animals in his science class, I think a

fetal sheep. I have just written an email to his science teacher to request an

alternative learning activity for him, and expressing my complete support of

his unwillingness to engage in that activity.

 

I've explained that he's a vegetarian, that he is willing to do an

alternative lesson, and that his aversion is consistent with his ethics, and his

choices

on a daily basis in his life. I'm hoping it won't get any more difficult than

this, and that when I hear back, it will be a positive response.

 

But I want to be prepared if it isn't. I wonder if anybody with kids in

public schools have faced this issue? Or if anyone knows of other resources I

might

consult in case I have to advocate more strongly?

 

Any advice or direction to other resources would be most helpful.

 

Thank you!

Susie

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

There are laws in some states that allow for alternatives to dissection. In NY

where I live schools have to provide an alternative for those students who re

opposed to dissection. If your state is not one that has this law I suggest

that you and your child contact your school board and express your thoughts. Be

prepared to present alternatives to dissection. I am sure that there are other

kids in the school who have similar problems. Maybe you can get a group of

parents together to go to a board meeting. School Boards are elected and I have

found that if enough parents go to a meeting for the same purpose the board

becomes interested. Good Luck

Carol

 

adela lohr <adela_lohr wrote:

 

 

This practice should be stopped. Animals should not be raised for the purpose of

dissection in a science class, when a video would teach the same thing. The

video could then be distributed to all public schools. The problems is that the

companies raising animals for this purpose would go out of business. awwww!

 

If your son's science teacher does not want to compromise, then I would allow my

child call in sick for the day.

 

I have 3 children, my son 18, daughter 10, and baby 8 months, so I will be

facing this issue as well.

 

I do understand the purpose of dissection for those special people in training

to be veterinarians....but for the rest of us...wouldn't a mere video do?

 

Adela

 

 

sdw1255 wrote:

 

Yesterday, my 14-year-old son Greg, came home from school VERY upset. It

seems that they are to do dissection of animals in his science class, I think a

fetal sheep. I have just written an email to his science teacher to request an

alternative learning activity for him, and expressing my complete support of

his unwillingness to engage in that activity.

 

I've explained that he's a vegetarian, that he is willing to do an

alternative lesson, and that his aversion is consistent with his ethics, and his

choices

on a daily basis in his life. I'm hoping it won't get any more difficult than

this, and that when I hear back, it will be a positive response.

 

But I want to be prepared if it isn't. I wonder if anybody with kids in

public schools have faced this issue? Or if anyone knows of other resources I

might

consult in case I have to advocate more strongly?

 

Any advice or direction to other resources would be most helpful.

 

Thank you!

Susie

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Good for you! I too notified my sons high school biology teacher that he would

be unable to dissect a rat. He was understanding and said would it be okay if he

watched and didn't have to dissect. I also notified PETA and they sent me

wonderful literature on teens against dissecting. We live in Kyle Texas and it

worked for us.

Good luck!

Mary

 

Patricia Bullington-McGuire <patricia wrote:

 

On Wed, 17 Nov 2004 sdw1255 wrote:

 

> Yesterday, my 14-year-old son Greg, came home from school VERY upset. It

> seems that they are to do dissection of animals in his science class, I think

a

> fetal sheep. I have just written an email to his science teacher to request an

> alternative learning activity for him, and expressing my complete support of

> his unwillingness to engage in that activity.

>

> I've explained that he's a vegetarian, that he is willing to do an

> alternative lesson, and that his aversion is consistent with his ethics, and

his choices

> on a daily basis in his life. I'm hoping it won't get any more difficult than

> this, and that when I hear back, it will be a positive response.

>

> But I want to be prepared if it isn't. I wonder if anybody with kids in

> public schools have faced this issue? Or if anyone knows of other resources I

might

> consult in case I have to advocate more strongly?

>

> Any advice or direction to other resources would be most helpful.

 

Public school students in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Florida, New York,

Illinois, Rhode Island, California, Louisiana and Virginia have the legal

right to refuse dissection. If you live in one of those states, you have

a major advantage. If you don't, or your son attends a private school,

there are still options, although the school is not obligated to grant

your request for an alternative.

 

There are a number of places you can find information on alternatives.

Try some of these:

 

http://www.api4animals.org/685.htm

http://www.animaland.org/asp/realissues/dissection.asp

http://www.vegfamily.com/lists/dissection-alternatives.htm

http://www.neavs.org/esec/alternatives/alt_index.htm

http://www.petakids.com/dissection_alternatives.html

http://www.dissectionalternatives.org/

 

I am currently taking a (college-level) human anatomy and physiology class

that is conducted entirely on-line and therefore involves no physical

dissection. We use an interactive CD-ROM instead. The CD is A.D.A.M.

Interactive Anatomy. <http://education.adam.com/> The class is intended

for people who are planning to pursue careers in various health care

fields. If interactive CDs are good enough for future nurse and physical

therapists, I would think they surely must be adequate for your standard

high school biology class.

 

----

Patricia Bullington-McGuire <patricia

 

The brilliant Cerebron, attacking the problem analytically, discovered

three distinct kinds of dragon: the mythical, the chimerical, and the

purely hypothetical. They were all, one might say, nonexistent, but each

nonexisted in an entirely different way ...

-- Stanislaw Lem, " Cyberiad "

 

 

 

 

 

For more information about vegetarianism, please visit the VRG website at

http://www.vrg.org and for materials especially useful for families go to

http://www.vrg.org/family.This is a discussion list and is not intended to

provide personal medical advice. Medical advice should be obtained from a

qualified health professional.

 

edical advice. Medical advice should be obtained from a qualified health

professional.

 

 

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

They can not force a student to take part of this. I have a 14 yr old daughter

as well. She has already been excused from doing a frog disection. Threaten to

take him to court. he will back off quickly.

 

Patty Paolini <patty wrote:

 

At 09:25 AM 11/17/2004 -0500, you wrote:

>Yesterday, my 14-year-old son Greg, came home from school VERY upset. It

>seems that they are to do dissection of animals in his science class, I

>think a

>fetal sheep. I have just written an email to his science teacher to

>request an

>alternative learning activity for him, and expressing my complete support of

>his unwillingness to engage in that activity.

 

PETA has a guide on this subject. They were very helpful when I faced the

same issue.

 

Patty Paolini

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For more information about vegetarianism, please visit the VRG website at

http://www.vrg.org and for materials especially useful for families go to

http://www.vrg.org/family.This is a discussion list and is not intended to

provide personal medical advice. Medical advice should be obtained from a

qualified health professional.

 

edical advice. Medical advice should be obtained from a qualified health

professional.

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

You can add New Jersey to this list also. NJ State Supreme Court decision

has required schools to provide an alternative curiculum for about 5 years now.

 

Phil

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

also- VIVA is a student based org that could give you a lot of info. GOOD LUCK

AND KEEP US UPDATED. C

 

 

[Guest guest]

I have to say something in reply to this post. something that I am not proud of.

I am currently training to become a reg. vet tech. in my bio classes we did

disection. at first I was terribly opposed to it. when I made my beliefs known

they made it known to me that I could dissect or get out! so of course- I did

the dissection. I hate to admit it but it made ALL of the difference. I now

understand the body and it's parts better than if I didn't do the dissecting. I

hate to admit it, though and feel terribly guilty. but I know it helped me and

made me that much better and more educated in my field. but I agree- for

students in high school-who won't actually be doing surgery, or at least I hope

not, a video would do. cristene

This practice should be stopped. Animals should not be raised for the purpose

of dissection in a science class, when a video would teach the same thing. The

video could then be distributed to all public schools. The problems is that the

companies raising animals for this purpose would go out of business. awwww!

 

If your son's science teacher does not want to compromise, then I would allow

my child call in sick for the day.

 

I have 3 children, my son 18, daughter 10, and baby 8 months, so I will be

facing this issue as well.

 

I do understand the purpose of dissection for those special people in training

to be veterinarians....but for the rest of us...wouldn't a mere video do?

 

Adela

 

 

sdw1255<sdw1255 wrote:

 

Yesterday, my 14-year-old son Greg, came home from school VERY upset. It

seems that they are to do dissection of animals in his science class, I think

a

fetal sheep. I have just written an email to his science teacher to request an

alternative learning activity for him, and expressing my complete support of

his unwillingness to engage in that activity.

 

I've explained that he's a vegetarian, that he is willing to do an

alternative lesson, and that his aversion is consistent with his ethics, and

his choices

on a daily basis in his life. I'm hoping it won't get any more difficult than

this, and that when I hear back, it will be a positive response.

 

But I want to be prepared if it isn't. I wonder if anybody with kids in

public schools have faced this issue? Or if anyone knows of other resources I

might

consult in case I have to advocate more strongly?

 

Any advice or direction to other resources would be most helpful.

 

Thank you!

Susie