A relic of the past...
Every year, hundreds of thousands of animals are killed for dissection in school biology lessons. School students who object to this cruel waste of life by opting out of dissection are made to feel they are being awkward, and can even be penalised by losing marks. Yet this method of study is simply a relic of the past.
Your right to refuse...
Many young people find animal dissection and experimentation extremely upsetting, but in the competitive education environment they can be pressured into undertaking procedures they would rather refuse.
Dissection teaches cruelty...
It is the first phase in a desensitisation process which teaches young people to subdue any finer feelings they may have and learn to inflict suffering on animals. This is necessary to perpetuate traditional methods of research.
Inertia and lack of imagination are primarily responsible for the continuation of dissection in the classroom. The real reason why academics are so anxious to promote the use of animals in teaching is because it gives validity to their own research using animals.
For many years dissection on animals has been practised in biology classes in schools. Often rabbits and mice are reared in the school and then killed on the premises . In some cases, inhumane methods of killing are used. Medical doctors have stated that they consider that dissection teaches nothing that cannot be learned with diagrams and models. We believe that for pupils to see animals reared, killed and used for dissection teaches them only one thing - a callous and unfeeling attitude towards other living beings.
The study of life?
Biology is the study of life, so to teach it by killing and dissecting is a contradiction in terms. In 1987, the Argentinian government banned dissection in schools and stated
"... that biology is the science of life, and it is not consistent to teach it at the expense of the life of other beings!"
"...that experiments on animals are part of a dangerous process which tends to desensitise the mind to pain, suffering, to respect and to life itself."
"...that it is necessary to promote knowledge of biology and channel scientific enquiry in a way totally consistent with respect and reverence for all forms of life."
"...that it us necessary to promote a scale of moral values which is humane, giving priority to creation not to destruction..."
Dissection purports to teach a better understanding of lifeforms but has never been proven to achieve these aims. (Many letters from students to organisations such as ours testify to the opposite effect). School students can pass geography exams without ever leaving their home towns, astronomy without ever seeing planets collide, or history without a time machine! Dissection undermines respect for life by treating other species as disposable educational tools.
There is nothing "squeamish", "sentimental" or "soft" about refusing to be involved on any way in the killing of animals for dissection. It is an objection of conscience based upon logical principles of justice.
A real education
- Far superior alternatives to dissection are now available including:
- computer simulations
- films
- videos
- models.
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Refuse to take part in dissection lessons. |
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Write to ARRC for a supply of leaflets to distribute to your friends. |
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Write to the Education Department, your school principal and your science and biology teachers, explaining your point of view. SA Education Department |
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Write to ARRC giving details of what pupils in your school are asked to do in dissection lessons. |
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Suggest Alternatives Suggest reasonable alternatives that will meet the teaching goals of the planned lesson by a method that doesn't involve the harmful use of animals.. (You should not be penalised or down graded for doing an alternative project). |
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Get your parents' support If your teacher is unresponsive to your objections and suggested alternatives, ask your parents to get involved. The presence of a supportive parent can sometimes make teachers more accommodating. The backing of your P.T.A. can be very helpful. |
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Organise others Try to organise like-minded students and approach your teacher as a group. Use school media, newspaper, etc. as a forum for discussion. Introduce the ethical issues of dissection in student meetings and in classroom discussions. |
If you believe that the abuse of animals should not be a part of the educational system, help us to bring this declaration to the attention of all school students, parents and teachers.
If you school has dissection in the curriculum, print and sign a copy of the Violence-Free Science Declaration either individually or with friends, and hand it to your science or form teacher. Please let us know the outcome.
Every time a student exercises his or her right not to dissect animals, the consciousness of the entire academic community - including teachers, administrators and classmates - is raised. By exercising your rights as a student you can help build a bridge between human and non-human animals.