Can someone tell me if this is true or false?

[zippy-kat]

Schools must provide an alternative for dissections?


I remember in HS, I refused to dissect the frogs/grasshoppers/worms & the teacher gave me alternative assignments. In my HS human anatomy class, we dissected cow eyes/brain and sharks. I watched all but didn't really participate. (It helped that my lab partner (my best friend) had her heart set on bein' a vet and so dissections didn't bother her a bit! lol)

I know at NMSU science classes dissect animals such as rats and CATS
Luckily, I never had to worry about dissecting other than in HS--I got my college sciences out of the way at a junior college where the worst we did was tear leaves off a plant. (Well, I suppose the actual worst thing that happened was when I blew up a beaker on a hot plate (oppsie ) --- it scared some guy & he ran out of the building!! ok, it WAS loud (and messy) but NOT THAT loud! lol)

[Karen]

I bet it varies state to state, and maybe even from school district to school district.

[momoffuzzyfaces]

When I was in High School (with Fred Flintstone), I wouldn't disect the frog either. Luckily my partner did and she was one who fainted at the sight of blood. She did it somehow. We lucked out, one of the boys distracted everyone by putting a frog's leg in his mouth. The teacher was worried that he had poisoned himself. He was a strange, strange kid.

[zippy-kat]

Originally posted by momoffuzzyfaces
When I was in High School (with Fred Flintstone), I wouldn't disect the frog either. Luckily my partner did and she was one who fainted at the sight of blood. She did it somehow. We lucked out, one of the boys distracted everyone by putting a frog's leg in his mouth. The teacher was worried that he had poisoned himself. He was a strange, strange kid.

EWWWWWW...lol lol
At a prom one time, this girl ordered frog legs and (? something else---a hamburger maybe--?)--she didn't eat the frog legs--just wanted them so she could make them waltz across all the table tops

[Logan]

I never thought about it being a problem, Tonya. I was so interested in all of that when I was in high school 100 years ago! LOL!! We were required to take Biology in the 9th grade, and we did the standard earthworm disection and the bullfrog. I went on to take Anatomy and Advanced Biology, and yes, we dissected a fetal pig, a cat (I shudder thinking that I was able to do that), plus other things. In fact, I can remember my group working on that cat in the middle of my mother's dining room table. She surely was tolerant! But, it was a learning tool, and I guess at that point, that is the mode we were in. I can't really remember anyone not agreeing to do it. But the Anatomy and Advanced Biology classes were ones I chose to take, not ones that were required.

[zippy-kat]

I took those same courses--our class voted on sharks rather than fetal pigs--I'm sure we had more disections, I just can't remember them now....

I don't think I could ever EVER cut up a kitty cat. Hopefully, I'll never have to face that in the future!!

and "on the dining room table..." LOL
That reminds me, who was it that had the brother who did the neuter/spay on the kitty at breakfast time???? I forget now, but I loved the way she told it....!!

[Edwina's Secretary]

That would be my brother who neutered my mother's cat on the breakfast table!

[lizbud]

Before or after morning coffee?

[mugsy]

EEEWWW Sara...on the TABLE?? lol

I taught 6th grade life science for 3 years and we dissected worms...that's all I was willing to tackle, but I never had anyone refuse to do it...but then they were 6th graders. I believe the policy is if you refuse you made the choice to take a zero on that particular lab and take the lower grade. That's at FWCS, but I don't know the policies at other districts.

[Edwina's Secretary]

A quick repeat of the story. I had just graduated from college and my brother was on his way back for his last year of vet school. Mother's new kitten, Albert needed to be neutered. I was rather sleepily eating my cereal at one end of the table while he attended to Albert at the other. (It really is a very simple surgery. I assisted him with another years later. There is a certain amount of female satisfaction to...oh never mind that.) Of course, he didn't have lots of fancy equipment so he used my mother's dish (which matched the one from which I was eating!)for "receiving."

When I asked him if he wasn't going to dispose of the "parts" he replied..."Doctors don't clean up after themselves!" a family joke for many years.

[lizbud]

Edwina's mom,

Your NOT KIDDING are you ? I always wanted my children
to succeed in life & do well , but sorry, I would draw the line
at the kitchen table. I'm sure he used a anesthethic (?)
and did a valuable service; but sorry ,not on my table.

BTW , My lab partner did ALL dissections (worms & frogs I
think) I didn't look. I took great notes!!!

[TheAntiPam]

We used fish - fresh caught from the local pond by some of the class members. Since fishing (and cleaning them) was familiar to most people in our little town, it was less yucky to most of us.

And, probably best of all, they didn't resemble the creatures most of us had at home!

[zippy-kat]

It must come in handy havin' a vet for a brother!! I'm (almost) surprised the Lady of the Mouse doesn't have more siblings...

Of course, she's above needing playmates--she has servants! ha!

[anna_66]

I hated disecting, I refused and opted for a big fat zero!

Here in Belgium , it seems to be done in every junior high school .
In October , my daughter had to do it on a rabbit ! When you know that her pet is a little rabbit (our Billie !!!) , you will understand how upset she was ....... ! Next year , a dissection of a fish is planned . I hope this won't bother her that much .... and I surely hope that fish will be more "fresh" than the one I had to work on at that age ; it smelled awful !!!!!!!!!!!
If I had my say in this matter , I would forbide this practise !! The student can as well learn this on plastic animals or from scetches !!!!

http://community.webshots.com/user/sydneybilliepets