will you automatically fail? My daughter's a freshman who is a vegetarian & is in to animal rights & she will refuse to dissect an animal. I will back her up 100%. I just wanted to know if anyone else has refused & if so did they fail?
2006-12-20 18:15:04 · 22 answers · asked by gitsliveon24 5 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Adolescent
They won't fail her, they'll probably just give her something else to do, like a paper lab, where she is essentially doing the dissection, except without cutting into an actual animal. They shouldn't fail her, or give her any lower of a mark. First, have her talk to her teacher, and if the teacher is really stubborn about it, and refuses to let her do anything else, then, and only then, should you go up and talk to the administrator at the school. I commend her for sticking up like that, and taking something that she's interested in, but sticking to her values. Congrats for that!
2006-12-21 08:27:10 · answer #1 · answered by brio_joy 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I refused to cut up a fetal pig in biology class when I was in high school. The teacher wanted to fail me, but I told her that if I could pass the test based on the dissection, then was there really a need to fail me? She didn't want to, but when I made the suggestion that perhaps I dissect her family pet instead (I was really pissed off, and as a teenager couldn't find a better way to make a point) she agreed. I studied quite hard from books and the internet. There was no need for multiple animals to die for kids to figure out where the parts of the body were. In fact, they probably could use a plastic model for the kids to work on, but they dont. I ended up doing quite well if I remember correctly.
2006-12-21 07:47:24 · answer #2 · answered by littlestacyq 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Most schools (and teachers) will usually offer some form of alternative assignment for the dissection assignment--however, they will also tell the child in advance if they will offer it, or fail the child for the day (or the assignment) for refusing to do this. They will usually also give the child an F if they get sick during the dissection (usually caused by the formaldehyde--or a weak stomach). The science teacher would have to have major balls to fail the child for the entire course just for this, though--and, I believe there are just a few who would do that, too!
2006-12-20 19:31:09 · answer #3 · answered by Mudcat007 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They can't make you dissect. She wouldn't fail. And if she did I would bring it up with the people in charge. I think it is GREAT that you are supporting her! I am a vegetarian too and if I'm ever in a class that dissects I will not be participating. You could even start a campaign yo have dissecting at that school completely replaced by a fake dissecting program on the computer.
http://www.petakids.com/disindex.html
2006-12-21 04:10:35 · answer #4 · answered by Answer Queen 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I understand her view, to a point. I'm into animal rights as well, but there is a reason you dissect in biology, to see the body structures and understand the way they work. It's a valuable teaching tool, and as a biology / medical laboratory graduate, I think it's pretty important to a complete education.
The best thing you can do for your daughter is to have her, not you, explain her position to the teacher, and offer an alternative, like doing a computer program for a virtual dissection. If it's not available in the library, expect to pay for it.
And, just as a side note to Suzanne, people do donate their bodies for dissection, all first year medical students dissect a human body. It's tough on most of them, but they do it.
2006-12-20 19:46:51 · answer #5 · answered by Emmy 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You will not automatically supposed to fail. Last year when I was a sophomore in Molecular Biology, my teacher always has two options to give to us in topic of animal anatomy; dissection on animal or alternative assignment.
All teachers should be like my reasonable teacher. If your daughter got a F, just bring it to the school board or the court.
2006-12-21 03:05:31 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Wow I think it is amazing how upset people can be because your daughter does not want to cut on the frog. These animals may be dead by the time they get to the class, but they were once alive only to be killed for what? A grade? Has life become that dispensable? I think this supports destructive attitudes in society in a very subtle way!
The frog was obviously alive at some point. I would like to start seeing some people volunteer their bodies and lives to go through what these animals do in the name of science. Let's slice you open so we can learn more about how the human body works. Let's spray bug killer in your face so we can figure out JUST how toxic this would be were a child to get a hold of it. Lab animals experience so much torture and its directly reflected in the products you buy. There are SO many alternatives and making life suffer is not necessary!
Life is such a commodity to people they don't even know what they are saying anymore.
As the parents, I think you guys are awesome to support your daughter. I think this is a great lesson for her to learn that just because the majority of people find it to be okay, and a entire school system could flunk you on this assignment, still doesn't make it right. It's just a pathetic display of people in a position of power making you feel as though you are less because you do not believe like them. If the frog died of natural causes, then maybe I could at least understand.
At any rate, I hope your daughter feels on top when she gets through this. She should feel great for standing up for her beliefs, standing up for life and animals, standing up for an attitude that does not promote death and destruction, standing up against the majority which can be so tough!
I give you and your family high stars!
2006-12-20 19:21:35 · answer #7 · answered by Suzanne 2 · 2⤊ 2⤋
You and your daughter should be talking in person with the teacher and principle.
The teacher can give her another assignment to complet.
In high school, I had the same issue with being against a certain topic/assignment.
When my English class did mythical: Greek Gods, I was (sorta) given a different assignment as I don't believe in mythology and this study goes against my personal religious belief. She gave me "homer" to look up. To which I found out he was a greek god, which really made my mom and I mad. However, I did it just to get it done and over with. Refused to take test on it as refused to "learn" from the assignment I did. I was not failed on it.
Those who had to dissect animals (that were already dead) were also given other assignments and were not failed (unless they didn't do the other assignments, which mostly was a 5 page report on that particular animal's habitat/way of life etc. Not hard assignment at all)
2006-12-20 19:51:14 · answer #8 · answered by Mutchkin 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋
teachers usually have an alternative activity for the student who doesn't want to do this. They do get a zero for the dissection but they are able to make it up with this alternative assignment. I think it will help if you call the teacher and let him know that she is very serious about this and would still like to pass. If he doesn't already have an alternative you could also suggest it to him.
2006-12-20 18:19:48 · answer #9 · answered by queenbuck79 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I am 24 so its been about 10 years (DEAR GOD) since I was a freshman and refused. I got a big fat F and my parents got mad at me. I just cant cut on an animal. They are dead for science and I dont liek it. I am not a scientist either so I have no reason to want to cut on dead animals. I think it is cruel and I dont think they should do it anymore seeing as how they have computer programs that can do the same thing asn these assignments. I say support your daughter. Yes the school can give her an F unfortunately.. It sucks.
2006-12-20 18:27:56 · answer #10 · answered by Brutally Honest 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋