Let students refuse dissections, board told

National Post
Jan 12, 2005
Janet Steffenhagen
CanWest News Service

Vancouver – Students should have the right to refuse when teachers invite them to dissect frogs, pigs or even grasshoppers, says a Vancouver woman lobbying for a "student choice" policy. Lesley Fox will make her case to school trustees today, arguing the lack of policy in Vancouver-area school districts means students may feel compelled to cut up animals and insects even when they oppose the practice for moral or religious reasons. She acknowledged teachers often excuse those who are clearly distressed at the prospect of dissection, but said she believes many other students participate because they feel they don't have a choice. Ms. Fox wants Vancouver to become the first major city in Canada to develop a policy that guarantees students a choice between dissection and an alternative, such as using plastic models or CD-ROMs featuring dissections.