[GovernmentShrinker]

Sure. Every kid whose parents are pushing them to beef up their school record, in order to impress colleges that the kids may not even care about, along with every kid who has to be put in the class to prove that the AP program isn't racially discriminatory, are in those classes.

Sorry, but I don't buy for a minute that cat dissections are an important part of high school biology, any more than blowing up model volcanoes is an important part of high school chemistry, or putting condoms on bananas is an important part of high school social studies.

[spunkets]

"I don't buy for a minute that cat dissections are an important part of high school biology"

While there's a lot of inflated claims for learning accomplishments nowadays, this is still an advanced anatomy/physiology class. There are some that get a tremendous benefit from doing the exercise. It all depends on their motivation, prior knowledge and the teachers skill at leading them through the exercise and commenting on what's important to note.

You're right to consider it a useless task for most, but for some in AP biology it's worth it.

[realpatriot71]

Sorry, but I don't buy for a minute that cat dissections are an important part of high school biology

See #178