All students deserve to be offered an alternative to dissection. The most effective way to ensure students the right to an alternative to classroom dissection is to pass a formal Student Choice Policy. This policy can be adopted at the individual school level, or at the school district level. Implementation of a formal choice policy should always be encouraged, even in states where laws exist to protect the rights of students, because not all teachers are aware of the prevailing laws in their municipality, nor are they sure of how to implement them. Formal policies clarify students' rights and reduce the potential for confusion.
When a formal policy is lacking, the decision of whether to allow a student an alternative is left up to the individual teacher. Situations arise wherein students must change teachers to avoid dissection because one teacher allows alternatives while another in the same school does not. This creates an unfair situation where one student in one class will have his or her beliefs respected, and another student in another class will not. When a formal policy exists, justice prevails. If teachers then resist offering alternatives, the student has legitimate recourse.
Help Getting Started...
Although general guidelines exist, differences among grade levels must be considered when addressing the policy issue. However, for those willing to take the issue to the local newspaper or news station, this will raise much awareness in the community and with information that NAVS can provide, one will have more than enough reasons as to why students should be allowed to use a humane alternative to dissection.
Learn more about implementing a Student Choice Policy at your school or district.
Below are links to additional documents that can help you in you begin the process. (Please note that these files can only be viewed if you have Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on your computer. Click on the button below to add this program before opening the booklets.)
