Student Concerns Guidelines for Passing Student Choice Policies The Ethical Science and Education Coalition supports the adoption of student dissection choice policies by school districts and state Departments of Education. Formal dissection choice policies ensure that alternatives to specimen dissection will be made available to students and that students and teachers are aware of the option to choose these alternatives. The following guidelines are a suggested course of action: Read the information available from ESEC regarding issues surrounding dissection, including ESEC’s Model Choice Policy. Also contact other animal protection and educational organizations for information regarding dissection and conscientious objection. Two excellent resources include InterNICHE's Guide to Conscientious Objection and Vivisection and Dissection in the Classroom: A Guide to Conscientious Objection by Francione and Charlton. To pass a choice policy in your school district, investigate the names and contact information for the Board of Education members and the school’s science coordinators or science department chairs. Call your school administration office or town hall and identify yourself as a concerned parent, teacher, or student. Contact Board of Education members by phone or mail, and ask if the district has a choice policy already in place, and if so, what it outlines, in detail. Try to determine the member’s opinion of the issue. If the Board member is interested in receiving more information, contact ESEC for a packet of literature. Always keep written, dated records of all conversations and copies of all written correspondences during this process. Obtain a copy of any pre-existing policies from the Board of Education or by contacting your school administrator. Meet with the Science Coordinator and/or head of the Science Department to describe your concerns regarding dissection. Investigate at what grade dissection begins, what animals are dissected, from which companies the specimens are bought, and if any students have objected to dissection in the past. [See ESEC's Fact Sheet on how specimens are obtained.] Give him/her copies of all ESEC materials and consider demonstrating a dissection alternative computer program or other alternatives. These alternatives are available on a loan basis from ESEC, or an ESEC representative may be available to present the programs in New England. A presentation for the Board of Education is an important part of passing a choice policy. Contact your town hall or superintendent's office to find out how to be placed on the board’s agenda, the usual format for the meetings, and how long you will be able to speak. ESEC may be able to provide a representative to participate in the presentation. Speak to other school parents, students, and teachers regarding the issue and urge them to participate in the presentation. For the presentation, outline briefly the major points of why you feel a choice policy would be beneficial to the students and teachers, and include opinions and testimonies from parents, etc. Additional options: Write a letter to the editor of your local paper to gain publicity and support. Encourage interested students to start a petition drive (after approaching the science coordinator). Present copies of the petitions to board members, the principal, head of the science department, and local newspapers (with a short accompanying cover letter). Be sure to keep all original copies for your files. Contact members of the school animal rights or environmental club for assistance. Contact local animal rights and environmental groups for support. Obtain copies of all invoices pertaining to the purchase of animal specimens and related equipment for the two previous school years to estimate costs on an annual basis. Use cost comparisons to help state your case. [See ESEC's cost comparisons.] Review any policy before it is adopted to ensure that it will provide sufficient protection to students. Remember to consult parents at all times during the process, and maintain a respectful and calm manner when speaking to administrators, teachers, students, etc. At any time during the process, please contact ESEC at esec@ma.neavs.com for support and assistance. Updated February 2001

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