Every year, millions of animals are senselessly killed so high school
and college students can use them for dissection. Although the
educational benefits of this may be high, is it really worth sacrificing
an animal's life?
Many people would agree on the basis that students must
learn hands on to really understand. While this may be true, many companies
now offer "virtual dissection" as a humane alternative. Computer
programs as well as actual models can be ordered by schools in place of
real animals.
Virtual dissection is beneficial in many ways. Students have a
clearly labeled model to work with and study. After dissection, many
animal bodies are too "cut up" to properly learn from. Not only is
dissection cruel to animals, it is also expensive. Computer programs
are much more cost effective mainly because they can be used over and
over again.
Several states have enacted laws protecting student's right not to
dissect. Individual school districts are able to, and many have,
enacted a student's choice policy on dissection in the classroom.
At Radford, CAAR, Campus Awareness of Animal Rights, is campaigning
to give students a choice. Last year, professors were given information
on alternatives to dissection. They know the options available to them,
now it is up to you, the students, to help fight this war against
dissection.
October is "Cut Out Dissection" month, sponsored by PETA,
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. So, for all you animal
lovers out there, start your own war against these inhumane acts by
protesting dissection in the classroom.
What do you think? Leave your feedback below.
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Name:olivia Comments:
grassroots, are there not organizations formed for the sole purpose of helping humankind? I see no reason why there should not be some to protect the animal species as well. One group cannot possibly cover the whole world, therefore there are certain groups to help specific causes. You say you do not like the cruelty animals are put through, but then you say that it's not important to stop it. Well, which is it??
Name: Grass roots Comments:
I am sorry you thought my intention was to slander you. Indeed, from your post that's what I thought drove you- either that, or a thorough misunderstanding of my position. I am glad you understand clearer now, but why would you assume because I critize those in the Peta crowd, that I would futher advocate no caring for animals? I know your emotions for this issue might be strong, but it will do you nor anyone else any good to put words anyone else's mounth. (and by the way, I doubt we see eye to eye about this)
Name:Michael Sos Major: ArT Comments:
to Mr. Grass
I appreciate you making your intentions so clear in your last submission. Obviously all you want to do is slander me.Either that or you have bad reading comprehension because you totally misunderstood my entry in this forum. I wrote that caring should not be specific to the human species. You wrote"I have worked for animals rights and care very deeply that cruelty in any form does not take place- period." So I guess we agree.
I am glad we see eye to eye.
I enjoyed our discussion. :)
Michael Sos
Name: Grass roots Comments:
In my opinion (and it is just that after all, this is suppose to be the opinion section right?) a person can be caring both both human and animal plights. I simply made the point in my original statement (read below) that I as a general rule, I don't care for most folks in the Peta crowd because they have a solid focus on animal issues. To me, this is a frivilous waste of time. Olivia, I did not intend any slander against you. I really have no idea where you stand, but I would send a strong message to those in the animal rights community to widen their priorities. This Sos guy seems to have a chip on his shoulder. He must be on the animal rights crowd and have been offended by my general condemnation. Please understand that actually I have worked for animals rights and care very deeply that cruelty in any form does not take place- period. But please if you going to spend a great deal on time and energy on activism, make it something that really counts (which in my opinion, is not animal rights). I am sure Mr. Sos disagrees. I am sure that my logic is scewed and my thoughts are too narrow for him. Too each his own.
Name:Olivia Lewis Comments:
Isn't it possible to care about people AND animals at the same time?? I'm not saying we shouldn't care about people and do everything we can to help them, but there's no harm in trying to save the animals as well. My point is not to say that animals are MORE important that human beings, but that maybe they should be considered as living, feeling creatures, not objects put on this earth solely for our benefit.
Name: Grass roots Comments:
Mike Sos, you accuse me of not thinking out my logic? Maybe you should take the same advice. First, I never said that we should care only for humans. I said that I don't care for people who spend so much time and energy caring for animals when so many people are fucked, but helpable. Pardon me for caring about impoverished people rather than dead animals. WHY would you assume that because I feel this way that I would be in favor of limiting health care on the basis of eye color. I am sorry, I don't get the logic.Perhaps you think that I speak out against animal rights folks that I must have a narrow point of view and by offering such a charectorsation of my statments would prove it. Sorry, no dice. Let me ask you- where are you priorities saving the frogs or ending famine in Africa? Or perhaps, it is going to far parties and drinking beer.
Name:Michael Sos Major: Art Comments:
Hey Grass roots-
Since when did caring become something that was specific to only the human species. I understand your point but your logic is not well thought out.If we go by your narrow thoughts and care only for humans maybe we should take that one step farther and only care about people of our own culture. I am sure if we wanted we could keep getting narrower. We could just give healthcare to people with blue eyes.Then we could say: Let's set our priorities straight, folks. Thier people with brown eyes, get over it.
(read grass roots to get my sarcasm)
Name:Helene Major: Biology Comments:
Although I am majoring in Biology, I think that dissection is wrong. Why kill even more animals, when we know what they look like on the inside from previous studies? I think that the virtual dissections on computer are a far better idea, not only are they more cost-effective and save animals (not only frogs... some biology labs actually dissect cats, which makes me want to throw up) but there's none of that horrid formaldehyde smell on a computer. I plan to go to grad school and get my Master's degree in education, and then I'm going on to teach science. And I am going to try my hardest to teach at a school where disecction is not required, so that I can use computer software instead. Great article!
Name: Grass roots Comments:
I am as liberal/progressive as mant peta members, but as a general rules I do not care for Peta folks at all. The reason- in their quest and zeal for animal rights and saftey and comfort on animals, many of them completly forget about the most unfortunate of our human unfortunate. I mean why would you spend so much time lobbying and complaining about a dead frog when so many children live in squaler and so many of our fellow man are treated brutally around the world. To me, this shows either shollowness or a deeper affection for animals than fellow humans. Let's set our priorities straight, folks. Their frogs, get over it.
