Programs & Campaigns
ESEC Donates Dissection Alternatives Center to Santa Fe High School
Back-to-School Gift for Students and Animals!
(Santa Fe, NM) August 1, 2003 - When Santa Fe High School students
go back to biology class this fall, young scientists will have access
to a Resource Center of state-of-the-art dissection alternatives.
The Center was established through the gift of a model alternatives
package from the Ethical Science and Education Coalition (ESEC),
the educational affiliate of the New England Anti-Vivisection Society
(NEAVS). ESEC responded to the need for such a Center after being
approached by students and teachers concerned about the ethical
implications of animal dissection.
ESEC hopes this Center-created in cooperation with several national
science-education companies, including A.D.A.M., Neotek, Prodissector,
Digital Frog and Tangent Scientific - will serve as a model resource
for the entire school district. Says Don McGeown of Tangent Scientific,
"Our company is proud to be a part of this important loan library
that will make available to Santa Fe students 'cutting edge' programs
for humane science alternatives."
Last May, ESEC president Dr. Theo Capaldo visited Santa Fe High
School at the invitation of the student group the Environmental
and Animal Rights Society (EARS). Addressing administrators, teachers,
and students, Dr. Capaldo answered questions about the educational,
humane, environmental and economic advantages of dissection alternatives.
Says Capaldo, "We are giving support to students of compassion
everywhere whose hearts and often careers are broken by being placed
in an impossible situation: dissect, harm or kill a poor abused
animal or fail a class. Frequently, these students of conscience
simply leave science forever. It is critical that, instead, they
remain in science to become the scientists and practitioners of
the future."
ESEC worked with Director of Curriculum Dr. Lana Paolillo and science
teacher Linda Marple to develop a list of dissection alternatives
appropriate to Santa Fe High's learning objectives. The re-usable
alternatives donated by ESEC have a total value of nearly $3,500.
Some of the exciting alternatives now available to Santa Fe students
are: a 3-D simulated cat dissection; interactive frog, perch, earthworm,
crayfish and fetal pig CD-ROMs; plastic rat model; and a brand new
frog dissection CD-ROM called "Pro dissector,"
created by The Schneider and Morse Group in Sylvania, Ohio.
Says creator Roy Schneider, "Pro dissector is a professionally
prepared interactive, multimedia program that uses award-winning
technology to teach anatomy and physiology. The programs are presented
in a format that is easily adapted for introductory through advanced
levels. "
ESEC hopes that this new Santa Fe alternative Center will serve
as a national model for school districts throughout the U.S. The
Santa Fe School District is considering either an outright ban on
dissection or an instituted choice policy. A decision is imminent.
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