Your stomach’s turning because your biology teacher announces that dead animals for dissection will be ordered later in the semester. Buck up and get busy making sure that no animal goes belly up for your lesson in anatomy.
1 Act fast to find out whom you’ll be asked to cut up (and how).
2 Tell your teacher nicely in writing that you can’t participate in the dissection because of your “sincerely held religious and moral beliefs about the sanctity of all life,” and ask for a humane alternative.These words provide the basis for a possible legal case. (You don’t need to belong to a formal religion; judges have ruled that a belief that animals should not be killed for classroom dissection is a religious belief, which schools cannot violate.) You don’t need to explain, argue, or try to defend your beliefs. Be cool, calm, and polite—and ask for a prompt response. Let your teacher know that watching other kids dissect isn’t going to cut it, either. Keep copies of all back-and-forth written notices and detailed notes of discussions.
3 Offer to research alternatives. A number of organizations loan alternatives, including CD-ROM’s and virtual dissections, to students and schools.Visit PETA.org for a list of organizations that can offer suggestions and help you find a suitable alternative.
4 If your teacher refuses to budge, take your parents (and a copy of your letter to your teacher) to meet with the head of the science department. If he or she refuses to work with you, meet with the principal. No response? Move on to the school superintendent—then, if need be, to the school board members. Ask the school board to adopt a policy allowing students to choose an alternative to dissection.
5 If they all hold out, call the Animal Legal Defense Fund (ALDF) at 707-769-7771. A volunteer attorney may be able to help. Often, one call from an attorney is all it takes. You can always call PETA (757-622-7382) for advice. Find out more at PETA.org.
Get Over to Froguts Check out the first true virtual frog dissection online at www.froguts.com.
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