Policy makers at all levels of government, academia and industry have cited the importance of science education as critical for the advancement of a democratic society.  The study of science is supposed to open a student’s mind to a world of discovery, critical problem-solving skills, and hopefully, to spark a lifetime of curiosity in scientific topics.  Whether or not a student intends to pursue a career in science or medicine, the lessons learned in school will influence them for the rest of their life.  Unfortunately, science classes may undermine efforts to teach respect and compassion for life and instead the lesson learned by many students is that nonhuman animals are little more than disposable laboratory tools.

At the National Anti-Vivisection Society (NAVS) we believe that how students learn is at least as important as what they learn.  And NAVS is committed to advancing humane science education.  NAVS understands that promoting an interest in biology while inspiring a respect for all living things can best be achieved when science education focuses on animals as living, sentient creatures, not dead specimens, who are part of a complex web of life with their own behaviors, life history patterns and relationships within an ecosystem. 

Learn about the NAVS Dissection Hotline

It is estimated that 6 million animals are dissected annually in high schools across the country.  Catalogs of dissection specimens illustrate an extensive inventory of specimens available, including cats, frogs, fetal pigs, mice, rats, rabbits, birds, bats, fish, reptiles and assorted invertebrates.  Cows’ eyes and other by-products of the slaughterhouse industry are also dissected.  Animals are still used in experiments at science fairs, in after-school science clubs and in 4-H club projects.  Chick egg hatching in incubators may be a part of the science curriculum to teach embryology.  As part of an effort to teach children responsible animal care and humane education, some teachers have enclosures for small animals, such as rabbits and guinea pigs for the students to interact with.  Animals are used in medical and veterinary school education to teach anatomy, physiology and surgical procedures in a range of laboratory and clinical settings.

Classroom education does not take place in a vacuum.  Today there is growing recognition of a link between animal cruelty and violence, many students, parents and teachers are critical of policies that require students to participate in science classes that include dissection when the students object to causing harm to animals.