The legislature is considering a bill that would allow students to opt out of dissecting a dead animal at school. WNPR's Jeff Cohen reports. State Representative Diana Urban supports the bill.
"There are students who actually avoid going to biology class because they object to using an actual animal in their dissection...And I know there's a lot of teasing that goes on in the classes." Urban says students should have a way to choose to use a computer model or simulation instead. Some high schools already allow the choice, while others specifically don't. She also says the bill makes fiscal sense.
"It's a money saver. Buying those dead animals is a significant expense." Urban says there is also a possible amendment that would mandate that a child's parent approve of the student's dissection choice.