Girl, 16, forced out of anatomy class

Baltimore Sun ^ | 9-25-2002 | Jonathan D. Rockoff

[Cagey]

A 16-year-old student at Kenwood High School who refused to dissect a cat was forced to abandon her honors anatomy and physiology class Monday, even though her mother offered to buy a computer alternative.

Jennifer Watson, an A student from Essex who cares for a pet cat named Fluffy, resisted dissection as inhumane.

The girl wanted to remain in the class, and her mother proposed buying software for performing simulated dissections on the computer, according to the girl and her mother, Maria Watson. But the teacher threatened to fail the college-bound student if she didn't participate in the dissections.

[LWalk18]

When I was in ninth grade at another school in this district back in 94', we dissected fetal pigs in regular biology class. I can't remember if all ninth graders did it, or just Gifted and Talented Biology students. I don't know why they have moved to cats.

[DaGman]

They started using cats some time back. My daughter also refused to dissect a cat in high school biology for the same reasons and was excused from it.

[Oztrich Boy]

When did they start using cats?

When they ran out of manatees.

[Arioch7]

ROTFLMAO!!! Very funny.

[homeschool mama]

They did cats in my school (73-76)...guess we had better funding. lol

[RANGERAIRBORNE]

"I design computer based instruction for a living. I have seen some pretty neat disection simulations"

I have seen some pretty neat aircraft simulators, too- but don't want the pilot of the next DC-10 I get on to have been trained without experience with the REAL THING!

[Huck]

That's it! I have seen the frog example before. That same design. Brilliantly done. You really can learn from it. It seems to me it might be cheaper to do it this way. I don't know what the animals cost, but one web based simulation can be reused countless times.

Further, the learning objectives for this exercise pertain to anatomy and physiology, right? Therefore, the physical aspects of the task are not entirely relevant, are they? Unless the student is expected to be able to use a scalpel and perform actual physical dissections. Don't mind me. I'm just rambling. Thanks for the link.

[BrooklynGOP]

I disagree. If she doesn't want to dissect a cat they shouldn't force her to.

It's a part of the course. She shouldn't have taken that class, then.

[SarahW]

When I was nine and ten, I used to set out "pre dissected" cats for her anatomy class. They were enbalmed/mummified cats on boards, split open from stem to stern. The main vessels injected with red and blue dyed wax for easy identification, and major organs tagged with little numbers. I have the idea that the students had to id the major structures. They didn't have to cut a dead cat open though.

[glock rocks]

hint to "advanced placement" student. stay out of medicine. it involves work with bodies and other, um, infeline stuff.

oh, and better look out for any other bio kinda stuff, and cooking anything more than free range sprouts is out...

have you considered welding or auto mechanics? maybe the laundry trade? ironin?

[Dog Gone]

According to the full article

Anatomy and physiology is an honors elective at Kenwood High. According to Herndon, the course description advertises that students must dissect animals as part of the class, but Watson said she never saw the description.

Not only that, the teacher offered to just let her WATCH, and she declined.

[SarahW]

oops, lost a sentence - the "her" I set the cats out for, is my mother, the anatomy teacher.

[al baby]

I agree if she dosent want to it should be no big deal hey she can still get condoms and abortins at school right?

[Cicero]

Seems reasonable to me.

I wouldn't much want to dissect a cat either, but in that case I wouldn't sign up for an advanced anatomy course.

[Wonder Warthog]

"I design computer based instruction for a living. I have seen some pretty neat disection simulations."

Simulation instruction is a useful ADDITION to real-world/hands-on labs, NOT A SUBSTITUTE. Part of the purpose of any lab course is to gain skills of manipulation of the tools of the specific course (basic surgical tools in anatomy, chemical equipment in chem lab courses). The problem is that many schools REPLACE the hands-on work with "computer instruction"--cutting out half (or more than half) of the value of the course.

[Wondervixen]

I always hated those little princesses and whiny future animal rights activists in class refusing to do the necessary curriculum everyone else was expected to do. It makes no difference WHAT animal they're dissecting, you just do it.

She needs to grow the hell up. The cats are already DEAD, for goshsakes...She's not being asked to kill it.

[Huck]

Part of the purpose of any lab course is to gain skills of manipulation of the tools of the specific course (basic surgical tools in anatomy, chemical equipment in chem lab courses).

OK. That was part of my question. If the physical skills are required objectives, then of course you are correct.

[Arkinsaw]

I disagree. If she doesn't want to dissect a cat they shouldn't force her to.

You are right, they should just flunk her and kick her butt out the door for refusing to complete the curriculum of the voluntary class she signed up for of her own free will.

[MississippiMan]

At the high school level, I think they should stay clear of domestic animals for dissection. Being a cat lover myself, I wouldn't be comfortable dissecting one either. Pretty dumb move IMO when alternatives are available.

MM

[Scuttlebutt]

Had a difficult time in high school biology with the cute little chicks …

I had that same problem also in high school also…had to settle for some less than pretty ones for a Friday night date.