3. Some US Biology Classes Make Dissection Optional
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/09/06/education/06dissection.html

RICHMOND, VIRGINIA, September 6, 2004: Grace Kendall knew back in 
seventh grade that she did not want to cut open a preserved frog. Her 
teacher allowed her to use a computer alternative. Now a junior at 
Stafford High School, Grace has declined to dissect ever since. "I 
thought there was something really wrong with dissecting a dead animal 
when I knew there were other options," she said. "Dissecting something 
that was killed so we could learn about it was unsettling." Grace said 
she was glad that Virginia had joined a handful of states that have 
enacted laws allowing students to opt out of dissecting fetal pigs, 
cats, earthworms or other animals. Starting this academic year, all 
Virginia students must be told they can decline to dissect without 
penalty, and instructors must provide them with alternative learning 
tools, including computer programs, Internet tutorials and plastic 
models.

The law has surprised some teachers, including Rebecca Ross, who 
teaches senior anatomy and physiology and 10th-grade biology at Cave 
Spring High School in Roanoke County. "I don't think there was anybody 
speaking for biology teachers" when the legislation was being written, 
said Ms. Ross, president-elect of the National Association of Biology 
Teachers. But she agreed that students with "moral, philosophical, 
religious or ethical" objections to dissection should be able to use 
alternatives.

  Virginia is among nine states that require school districts to provide 
dissection alternatives. Florida was the first to pass such a law, in 
1985, followed by California in 1988. New Jersey is also considering 
similar legislation. Argentina, India and Israel are among nations that 
have banned dissection in schools. The trend is driven in large part by 
animal-welfare groups like People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals 
and the Humane Society of the United States, which encourage students 
to oppose dissection. The groups contend that many animals used for 
dissection often suffer during their capture, handling and killing, and 
say the practice devalues animal life. "We believe that dissection in 
the classroom is an antiquated method of dissection and promotes the 
widespread abuse of animals," said Jacqueline Domac of PETA. The Humane 
Society estimates that six million animals - mostly frogs, fetal pigs 
and cats - are dissected annually in American high schools. The society 
distributes anti-dissection videos and loans alternative software to 
schools.