7115    Dissection

Teaching and Learning/Instruction

This policy is to affirm the right of students who conscientiously object to participating in the dissection of animals.

Students may request alternatives to dissection if they are opposed to dissection because of religious and ethical reasons or if the process is repulsive to the student. students requesting an alternative lesson plan to dissection should be granted their request without any pressure to do otherwise.

In order to provide a truly fair student "choice" policy for classroom animal dissection, the following provisions should be implemented:

1.      All science teachers should be informed of the policy by the superintendent of schools.

2.      Science teachers should verbally advise students of their option to do an alternative exercise prior to the scheduled course exercise.

3.      A student's grade should not in any way be affected by the choice of an alternative lesson plan and a student should not be discriminated against based upon his or her decision to exercise the right of choice. .

4.      Alternative education projects should be in place in all life science classes for students who refrain from participation or observation of a dissection. The project should require a comparable time and effort investment by the student. It should not, as a means of penalizing the student, be more arduous than the original dissection project.

5.      The onus should not be on the student to come up with an alternative project.

6.      Teacher guidance and assistance should be available for students who choose alternatives.

Policy  adopted:   6/15/93