Recently in biology class, we dissected rats. I found it exciting and a great learning experience, but I found that not everyone thinks the same while doing some research online. Many people believe dissection is cruel to animals, and schools should not force students to dissect animals. Many people also think that animal dissection is gross; some people end up fainting or throwing up. This did not happen in my class, but other people shared their dissection stories online.
In Alexandria during the third century B.C., the first documented scientific dissection on a human took place. Anatomy was explored mainly through the dissection of animals, primarily pigs, and monkeys. The church did not ban anatomy, but social authorities rejected dissecting human corpses. This lasted until the 12th and 13th centuries. During the 17th century, people would build an anatomical theater in many cities. These anatomical theaters held dissection presentations that both rich and poor attended. During the eighth century, dissection was seen more often in schools.
I do not have a problem with dissection; I think it is a great learning experience. I do not believe the world would be where it is today without the dissection of animals. Dissection teaches students about medicine and different parts of the body. It also teaches students if they would enjoy being in the medical field. The rats we dissected in the class were already dead from previous medical experience. Most cats that are dissected are from animal shelters that were put down. When I think about innocent animals dying, it makes me sad, but I think high school and college students need to dissect animals to continue to learn about anatomy.
If you are a student who does not want to participate in dissection, it is your choice. The dissection choice law protects kindergarten through high school. This allows students the right to refuse to participate in classroom experiments like dissection.
If you are a freshman, are you looking forward to dissection next year? Why or why not?
If you have dissected something before, what were your thoughts on it?
Do you think dissection is animal cruelty or should be banned? If yes why?
https://www.discovermagazine.com/the-sciences/the-argument-against-high-school-animal-dissections
Replies
You have really good points. You can't really ask an animal if we can do anything because they can't talk to us. The rat grossed me out the first day but after a while it did not.
I think it will be interesting to dissect animals to see how their organs are placed in their bodies compared to human bodies. Dissection is also a chance to learn how different animals’ bodies work. I think as long as the animals have already died because of other reasons, then it is fine. However, if the animals that are being used during dissection were killed only so that they could be dissected, I would not want to participate in the dissection portion of the class. I don’t think that should be allowed because that is just being a cruel person to animals.
Yes, I think this shouldn't be allowed. The animals did not give us permission to cut through them and mess around with their organs and muscles. If a scientist is trying to figure out how they work then it's understandable. However, children shouldn't be disecting rats. Mr. Yeoman told us that frogs weren't allowed because it was unhumane. Rats are just as similar. I believe it should be banned.
I disagree with you, I think that dissection should not be banned. I respect your points, the animals didn't give us permission, but they are already dead so I do not think it is harmful to them. I think dissection is a big part of where the medical industry is today and I think it would be a real disadvantage to us to stop dissection.
I don't think that dissection is animal cruelty, especially if the animal is already dead or dying. I think that we should only dissect for educational purposes rather than just for fun. I think this because the animal's life would be wasted if we didn't learn from their bodies. I think that having the option to dissect is great as it allows students to opt out of dissection if they feel uncomfortable. As long as this is a choice, I don't think dissection should be banned.
In my class we did this and I thought it was, like you said, a great learnig experience and interesting. I think that it isnt cruel unless the animal died in a cruel way. I personaly don't think that it should be banned, because if people are going into that type of feild when they are older and get a job, they should have been able to do that in schools, also it is only rats in Biology, unless you take anatomy classes, then its not just rats.
I agree I don't think it is cruel unless it died in a cruel way. Most animals die from natural death or a non-painful way.
I don't really think it's cruel, dissecting an amimal is a great way to learn about anatomy. I don't think it should be banned because it can help doctors find diseases in others and try to prevent in from happening to anyone else.
I agree, I think that dissection is a great way to learn about anatomy. I also do not think that it should be banned.
When I dissected my rat in biology class I learned a lot. I think that if given the chance again I would definitely take it. I don't think that it is aminal cruelty. The rats we used in class were used in a lab somewhere and most cats that get dissected are cats that have been euthanized so I don't think it's cruel.
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