In my year 11 biology class we were asked to dissect a rat. Whilst I was the only one who objected to do so, I was suprised at the number of people in my class who not only wanted to do it; they were looking forward to it!  When the day came and the class began the task, I watched as the excitement soon turned to revulsion for the majority of the students. One girl even had to leave the classroom to be sick. I guess the reality was far different  from the theory and the smell coupled with the act of actually cutting up a body that was once alive was too much.
Every year, hundreds of thousands of animals are killed for dissection in school biology lessons. Students who do not wish to participate in dissection can be made to feel that they are being a 'troublemaker' or 'difficult' and some have even told us they have been threatened with losing marks if they dont join in.
There is one simple thing you need to remember, and that is- 

Did you know that NO State Education Department in Australia has made dissection compulsory?

One of the main arguments against dissection is that allowing young people to 'cut up' animals is that that is can be the first stage in a desensitisation process which teaches young people to subdue any finer feelings they may have and learn to inflict suffering and pain on animals.

 Dissection on animals has been practised in biology classes in schools for many years. 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 students to see animals reared, killed and used for dissection teaches them only one thing - a callous and unfeeling attitude towards other living beings.

WHAT CAN YOU DO ABOUT IT?

Refuse to take part in dissection lessons.

Suggest Alternatives-

 · Computer simulations

· Films

· Videos

· Models.

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). 

Write to the Education Department in your state, your school principal and your science and biology teachers, explaining your point of view. 

For more information check out:  www.arrc.org.au    Animal Rights Resource Centre, The Anti-Vivisection Union (SA) Inc