Assembly
clears bill to give students alternatives to dissecting an
animal
Tuesday, December 13, 2005 • BY
TOM HESTER • Star-Ledger Staff
New Jersey public school students who
cannot stomach dissecting a pig, frog, rodent or cat would
be allowed to opt out under a bill approved by the Assembly
yesterday.
The bill would require schools to provide
alternative education projects for pupils in kindergarten
through 12th grade who choose not to participate in
dissecting or capturing an animal or experimenting on it.
The students would not be penalized with a lower
grade.
The vote was 74-3 with one
abstention.
Under the bill, an alternative project
could include the use of videotapes, models, films, books,
computers, "or any other tools which provide an alternative
method for obtaining and testing the
knowledge..."
Schools would be required to notify
students and their parents at the beginning of each school
year of the right to decline to participate. Within two
weeks of the receipt of the notice, pupils or their parents
would have to notify the school if they want an alternative
lesson.
Assemblyman Jeff Van Drew (D-Cape May) is
a co-sponsor of the legislation. He said virtually all
legislators receive complaints from students or their
parents about the requirement to dissect animals when they
do not need the experience to further their education or
feel they can learn the lesson another way. He said some
students object for religious reasons or dislike dissecting
a cat, for example, when they have one at home.
"They feel why sacrifice an animal when
they feel they are not learning much and will not major in
biology," Van Drew said.
John Zlock, a spokesman for the state
Department of Education, said there is nothing in science or
biology curriculum standards that mandate a student dissect
an animal. He said dissecting is encouraged as a practice
but some schools do offer alternatives.
The measure (A2233) now moves to the
Senate for consideration.
© 2005 The Star-Ledger. Used by NJ.com with
permission.
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