New Jersey’s Choice: Compassion
Following the lead of eight other states, New Jersey recently
enacted legislation requiring that students be informed of their
right to opt out of dissection without penalty and requiring teachers
to provide a humane alternative.
The law, which received overwhelming
support in the state legislature, also requires schools to inform
parents that their children have the right not to dissect. Many
students feel intimidated at the thought of requesting an alternative
from their teachers. Parental involvement will help them feel confident
about expressing their moral, religious, or environmental objections.
Daran
Haber, M.D., a New Jersey member of PCRM, testified in support
of the bill. Dr. Haber is one of a growing number of physicians,
biologists, and other experts around the country who recognize
that dissection is inhumane and can also be emotionally traumatic
for students.
The other states with dissection choice laws are California,
Florida, Illinois, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island,
and Virginia. Four additional states—Louisiana, Maine, Maryland,
and Massachusetts—have
state resolutions or education department policies that protect
student choice.
Young people want humane options. One survey of ninth graders found
that 50 percent would have chosen an alternative to dissection
if offered one. The New Jersey victory should encourage citizens
from other states to lobby their elected officials for a similar
dissection choice law or to strengthen the language in an existing
one.
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