Human or Humane?

You CAN Be Both

October 26, 2015
Anatomy and Physiology
Ms. Giannou
6TH Period

Kara Titus

Each year, over six million animals are killed for the dissection industry
(Dissection). The majority of these animals killed are taken away from their natural
habitat. Year after year, humans continue to prepare unsuspecting animals for learningbased dissection. But, what many humans dont tend to consider are the many other ways
lessons may be taught that dont end a life. Animal dissection in the school setting is
unnecessary and over taught. Not only is dissection hazardous to the environment, it also
tends to teach children that is acceptable to treat animals in this manner. There are many
mediums to communicate the same lessons, which do not involve animal harm.
Humans are animals too. Although humans are not traditionally dissected, it
should not be culturally acceptable to kill and dissect our fellow animals. Before
dissection, conditions such as cats forcibly injected with preserving fluids and rats
embalmed alive are only a couple of ways that animals are prepared to be served up for
students to dissect (Dissection). Animal life is not expendable. When students are
exposed to the dissection of animals as routine, the students become accustomed to it and
associate the action with being a socially acceptable process (Classroom). But the fact of
the matter is that this operation is inhumane.
Not only is this operation a representation of animal abuse, but also it is harmful
to the environment. By taking critical roles out of their environment, the animals habitats
are left unbalanced. Some states have even taken the initiative to outlaw commercial
harvesting because the depletion of local populations has been very prominent
(Classroom). In particular, the exhaustion of the frog population has promoted increased
disease and harmful invasive species (Kriger).

Lastly, it must be known that dissection is not the only mean of communicating
the anatomical makeup of animals. Other mediums such as computer programs, movies,
and life-like models are all just as beneficial as dissection, but do not take a life (5 Facts).
These mediums are just as interactive as dissection, and as an added bonus do not give off
an odor.
Most participants find dissection to be a positive experience. After a dissection lab
of 17 students, 12 found their participation to be pleasant (Barr). There is no other
method comparable to hands on learning. When students are given the opportunity to see
first hand exactly what animals insides look like, they must grasp it because it is highly
unlikely that they will do anything of such in their future professions. Although there is
nothing like hands on dissection, that does not refute the assertion that the action is
inhumane. Humans must care more about the consequences of their actions, than about
re-learning a science that there has been countless films made upon. We must stop being
selfish and focused on our own enrichment and focus more on the precious lives of our
fellow Earth dwellers.
Humans are not superior to all around them. We must begin to treat other animals
with more respect. Although dissection is a very useful learning technique, the lesson can
be acquired through non-lethal means. Over the course of our years of teaching through
dissection, countless amphibians have become extinct, childrens brains have become
susceptible to superior thought, and ways have been developed to show the material
through other mediums. Students have the option to opt out of dissection. If I were you, I
would think before I helped continue the income for harvesting companies of animals
prepared for dissection.

Works Cited
Barr, Gracia, and Harold Herzog. "Fetal Pig." (n.d.): n. pag. Animals and Society. Web.
"5 Crazy Facts About Classroom Dissection | Save Animals | PETA Kids." PETA Kids.
N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Oct. 2015.
"Dissection." Last Chance for Animals. LCA, n.d. Web.
"Dissection in the Classroom - National Anti-Vivisection Society." Dissection in the
Classroom - National Anti-Vivisection Society. NAVS, n.d. Web. 26 Oct. 2015.
Kriger, Kerry. "Frog Dissections." The Problem with. N.p., 25 Apr. 2013. Web. 26 Oct.
2015.