Did you ever have to dissect something in biology class? As I recall, we had to cut up dead worms. Our biology teacher should NEVER have been allowed near kids. He took pleasure in making the weakest of us squirm and was vindictive and sarcastic. He managed to rise to the level of Principal, so he could affect larger numbers of students. :-( I suppose that we were lucky that we only had to work on worms. If we had had to cut up a frog, I would have been kicked out of school for refusing to do it.
I was pondering just why we need to disect things. I realize that the hope is that we will understand more thoroughly with a first hand experience, rather than merely reading about it. But most of us aren't ever going to see the inside of a worm again. The closest most of us get to frogs once we leave school, will be running them over with the car. So, WHY do we waste so many days playing with sharp knives?
It occured to me that I might have been able to protest having to disect anything. Of course, that wasn't done in the middle ages, but if I had been pushed into cutting up a frog, I might have tried it. I wonder if a kid has done just that somewhere, creating a precident?
We could accomplish the same learning experience with latex models which could be assembled and disassembled. Since the models are reusible, the cost for class supplies would go down. The knives could be kept locked away and the school's insurance bill would go down. And, consciencious objectors would have nothing to complain about!
I vote that disection be limited to science and medical classes and butchers, and not required of high school students.
Comments (27)
Hi Buffy. Well, it may come as no surprize to you that I have dissected many animals. Before I did Medicine I got a B.Sc. majoring in Zoology and Biochemistry. So, let me see: rats, fish, birds, cockroaches, toads, sharks, sea urchin....I'm sure there are more, but my memory fails me (I'm talking about 1983-87).
Then came Anatomy in Medical school where we had the cadavers to contend with. That took a bit of getting used to, but really they almost look plastic because of the formaldehyde used to preserve them. Guess you might think I'm a bit weird...no it was just what had to be done to pass the exams and learn what we were supposed to.
Posted by Dr. D. | May 17, 2003 10:16 AM
Posted on May 17, 2003 10:16
And yes, worms as well. :-0
Posted by Dr. D. | May 17, 2003 10:17 AM
Posted on May 17, 2003 10:17
Doc....EEEEEEEEEWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!!!
I guess my point was that it seems unnecessary to have the entire secondary school population of the US disecting THINGS. I know that those of you who become doctors, or medical researchers or biologists need to do this, but couldn't it be confined to specialized college courses, rather than inflicting it on the populace in general?
I still love ya, despite the fact that you've been cutting up THINGS! *G*
Posted by Buffy | May 17, 2003 10:23 AM
Posted on May 17, 2003 10:23
in Jr. High we did worms, frogs, lobster (what a waste!) and something else that must have really made an impression cause I don't remember it (was in 7th grade) in regular science class.
never did after that though...
Posted by Redeagle | May 17, 2003 4:46 PM
Posted on May 17, 2003 16:46
I guess it is done to make students more aware that there is organs etc beyond the outer flesh of animals in general! Be thankful they only do worms!
Posted by Desiree | May 18, 2003 4:12 PM
Posted on May 18, 2003 16:12
well i think dissecting worms is disgusting because they are but i love to do it because that is the way i am going to know about worms and for me dissecting worms was pretty nice but it was gross anyway i loved it
Posted by Lisa Ayala | December 9, 2003 6:33 PM
Posted on December 9, 2003 18:33
IM IN 7TH GRADE, AND WE DISSECTED WORMS TODAY, we are also going to do a frog and a sheeps eye
its not that im grossed out or anything but i dont beleive in animal disection, we can learn just as much by reading a book or doing stuff online. im also a vegatarian. i spent science in teh principle office because i "Wasnt pertisipating well" does that seem right to u?!! i must be punished for me beleives! shes also making me do a 5 page essay on the worms, using a book. 5 pages!!! and all they had to do was a 6 multiple choice question sheet!!!
Posted by hannah | January 12, 2004 6:16 PM
Posted on January 12, 2004 18:16
hello im in 7th grade and one day this week i have to dissect a worm but later on in like 2 weeks i have to dissect a frog ewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww mayjorly.........
Posted by peggy jean | February 2, 2004 6:42 PM
Posted on February 2, 2004 18:42
Buffy, I totally agree with you 100 percent, the killing of animals (that were raised in labs for the sole purpose of being drowned in formaldehyde, and poked at by students)is soooo wrong. life would be so much more less complicated and it would not be as morally wrong if disections in schools did not take place any longer. I am writing to you from my school library computer, while my science class is disceting a sheep's eye.....a few weeks ago we had to disect a frog, and my teacher did not let me come to the library for that one. something has to be done about this. -so frustrated in New England
Posted by G | March 9, 2004 9:39 AM
Posted on March 9, 2004 09:39
im in 7th grade... but i was gone when we had to disect worms and im totally disgusted now that we have to disect frogs!!!! yuckypoopoo!!!! well i came here to see pictures and things like that becuz i have to write a report on worms becuz i had to miss when we disected them.. well toodles...
Posted by krystal | March 30, 2004 6:18 PM
Posted on March 30, 2004 18:18
We diccected worms today. It wasnt that bad since my lab partner is some nerd kid so I made him do all the work. Hey hannah, 5 page essay? Tell your teacher to f*** off. Peace homedizzles
Posted by greg | April 1, 2004 2:48 PM
Posted on April 1, 2004 14:48
This website was like EWWW! I hate worms they are soooo gross!!! I hate the smell of them! They smell really weird! When it rains, it smells like worms, and I dont like it! Your website was a good thing tho, I think! Orlando Bloom is like my boyfriend!
Posted by Riley | April 22, 2004 10:19 AM
Posted on April 22, 2004 10:19
Man i hate worms to and you should be able to dicide whether you want to disect them or not. EEEEWWWWW worms worms worms you never hear the end of them. And guess what else???? STEVE IS MY SOON TO BE BOYFRIEND!!!!!! i luv u steve
Posted by Goo goo | April 22, 2004 10:21 AM
Posted on April 22, 2004 10:21
I think worms are grose. And i never want to disect them. welll g2g.
i am married to david galleger
Posted by patty fatty | April 22, 2004 10:22 AM
Posted on April 22, 2004 10:22
I love worms, they are so warm and cuddely!! I love them soo much! I am soooo against diseting them, thats like sooo wrong! I dont like you guys talking about hurting my friends!!
Posted by Kandis | April 22, 2004 10:23 AM
Posted on April 22, 2004 10:23
I love worms they are so awesome and slimy and taste good to!! (i have had experience) Plus they're all covered in that warm moist soil. Hey Bethany and Miranda!! I LUV U BOTH!!! WITH ALL MY HEART!!
Posted by Curly Q | April 22, 2004 10:24 AM
Posted on April 22, 2004 10:24
i love worms, especially when they are covered in chocolate
Posted by sillly billy | April 22, 2004 10:24 AM
Posted on April 22, 2004 10:24
Murando and Cwistin r my fwenz! i love you soo much!! FWOM ME BWETHANY
Posted by hehehe | April 22, 2004 10:25 AM
Posted on April 22, 2004 10:25
Im in 8th grade going to 9th very soon and in school im having a debate class on stoping school disections. thanx to everyone on here who is against them, i have back up and other people that do not agree with disecting worms or any other animal ya'll might encounter with. thanx again.
Posted by Lauren | April 25, 2004 8:35 PM
Posted on April 25, 2004 20:35
EWWWW yea i stumbled acros this site as i was supposed to be doing research on my up-coming worm cutting open expirement . it think you are 100 % correct and so does my bilology teacher . i mean why disect them when we can get everything we ever needed to see from pics on-line . So right on .. thank ya ---------- CB -----------
Posted by Christina B | April 28, 2004 11:07 AM
Posted on April 28, 2004 11:07
hi you guys!!! ive already dissected the frog and it was so cool!!! at first I was saying ewww like you too, but it is so cool once you do it and you actually find out how their organs work. my frog was a girl because it had the black eggs inside. and when we opened her digestive cord there was nothing in there so we think she died of starvation. neways its really fun the only ughs about it is the frog juice and the smell but other than that its a great experience if your going on to bigger things in school . have fun. bye
Posted by whitney | May 15, 2004 12:42 PM
Posted on May 15, 2004 12:42
I have a debate on disections in biology classes, and i was ASSIGNED to be "pro"
Any Ideas?
i know u guys r against it but i need the help
*thanks
Posted by Emma | May 24, 2004 1:19 AM
Posted on May 24, 2004 01:19
I am just starting to disect toads in school and I think it is soooo inhumane!
Posted by opal | August 9, 2004 12:53 AM
Posted on August 9, 2004 00:53
hey im sorry i do see the importance of this site now and its for those who dont believe in all the disecting and i may have hurt some pplz feelings
soo sorry
Posted by kasie | August 26, 2004 11:24 PM
Posted on August 26, 2004 23:24
Why would you look at pictures on the web when you can do it firsthand...I know you guys think its wrong to dissect but when you read the books not much goes into you brain. But when you disect them and saying eww I guess that means your paying attention.
Posted by Jeremy | October 13, 2004 2:46 PM
Posted on October 13, 2004 14:46
Jeremy, your point is well taken. First hand work usually cements the information more firmly. But, there are some people who are unable to get past their squeemishness, and never learn the lesson, and others do object to dissection.
We are a nation built on freedom. Perhaps those who don't have your strengths, should be able to learn in a way that better suits them.
Posted by Buffy | October 13, 2004 3:07 PM
Posted on October 13, 2004 15:07
Last year in the 7th grade I disected an earthworm and a squid. It was quite fun! You got too see the heart pumping in the earthworm and also got to see the dirt that it ate. In the squid disection, we got to keep the "pin" (I think the "back bone" or something like that (this was last year)) and my teacher fried some and we ate it...it tasted good! It was really fun. I'm not against disecting stuff.
Posted by Grant | October 15, 2004 5:44 PM
Posted on October 15, 2004 17:44