Student honored for refusing dissection assignment

October 6, 2009

Student honored for refusing dissection assignment

By: RACHEL CANELLI The Intelligencer

The next time a Catholic high school student gets queasy over the idea

of dissecting an animal in science class, he or she can put down the

scalpel.

With the help of Animalearn, a national animal protection group, the

Archdiocese of Philadelphia is instituting a new policy this school year

that will allow pupils with concerns about animal dissection to use

state-of-the-art virtual technology instead.

"As the 21st century evolves, greater use of virtual dissection

experiences will be encouraged and eventually replace the use of

scientifically preserved animals," Mary E. Rochford, superintendent of

Schools for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, said in a statement

released Monday. "With the availability of virtual lab experiences and

other Internet instructional tools, students can arrive at the same

learning."

That's what Archbishop Wood High School graduate Megan Sweeney did.

She was recently named Animalearn's 2009 Humane Student of the Year for

opting for an alternative assignment instead of dissecting animals in

her biology class. The award includes a gift of dissection alternatives,

including models and CD-ROMS for her alma mater.

"The archdiocese's student choice policy can serve as a model for other

schools in the state of Pennsylvania, in addition to other dioceses

across the U.S.," said Laura Ducceschi, director of Animalearn.

Rachel Canelli can be reached at 215-949-4191 or rcanelli@phillyBurbs.com .