The tragic slaughter of 34 wild horses outside Reno, Nev., (“Sorting out a senseless slaughter,” KidNews, Feb. 2) points out the growing problem of cruel and senseless violence toward animals. Research has identified a correlation between people who are violent to animals with a propensity for criminal violence to humans as well.
While violence in the media is sometimes blamed for the upsurge in violence by young people today, it is also necessary to look at other institutional influences that shape our children. Dissection in the classroom is a prime example of an educational tool that creates a desensitizing environment and fosters an attitude of callousness toward animals. Some students enjoy the exercise as a change from their usual textbook assignments, but many others are turned off by the process and abandon the study of science rather than dissect more animals. The message of dissection is that animal life is cheap and expendable–and that it is OK to inflict harm on non-human creatures.
Serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer admitted his fascination with dismemberment began with a science class dissection.
There are many non-animal alternatives already being used in schools that provide a better and more humane learning experience than animal dissection, and encourage students with a strong sense of compassion to continue their studies in the life sciences.
