ESEC Responds
Student Choice Applauded from Boston
March 2, 2005
Kelowna Capital News
To the Editor:
The Ethical Science and Education Coalition (ESEC), headquartered
in Boston, MA, supports Kelowna students' efforts to pass
a student choice policy, which would allow conscientious objectors
to use a humane alternative to animal dissection or vivisection
exercises (Learning From Dead Creatures Being Opposed, Feb.
25 Capital News).
There is a vast need for a student choice policy at all school
levels to protect bright students from being penalized with
lower grades and/or forced to drop classes because of the
required use of animals.
Not only are alternatives more cost effective, they represent
technological advancements that will better prepare students
for future careers in the scientific field. In fact, two-thirds
of all medical schools in the United States, including Harvard,
Stanford, Columbia and Yale, have eliminated the use of animals
for training doctors, replacing them with state-of-the-art
computer programs, simulators and human surgery observation.
Plus, many veterinary schools now allow humane alternatives
to invasive animal procedures.
ESEC's Alternatives Loan Library, which contains more than
400 books, 200 videos, and dozens of models and computer programs,
offers loans to schools, teachers and students. Replacing
animal specimens with alternatives also eliminates the use
of toxic chemicals by students and teachers.
The New England Anti-Vivisection Society applauds Cory Davis
and The Responsible Animals Care Society and encourages Rutland
senior secondary officials to implement an official student
choice policy, so Kelowna's students have the right to pursue
science without harming animals.
Jodie Wiederkehr
Education Associate
New England Anti-Vivisection Society
Boston, MA
|
