BOSTON, MA -- (MARKET WIRE) -- November 2, 2006 -- A Massachusetts educational policy that protects
students' rights is being commended and is spurring a statewide student
awareness campaign. The Ethical Science & Education Coalition (ESEC), an
affiliate of the Boston-based national organization, the New England
Anti-Vivisection Society (NEAVS), is spreading the word to students about
the Massachusetts Department of Education's (DOE) policy that protects
students who choose not to participate in animal dissection. The DOE's
policy allows students to learn through humane alternatives.
"ESEC's longstanding and unwavering efforts have resulted in protecting
students' rights to humane dissection alternatives," says Dr. Theodora
Capaldo, president of NEAVS. "We are pleased to see the DOE's support for a
student's right to choose humane alternatives, which offer an equal if not
better learning experience. We are also grateful to Representative Louis
L. Kafka (Eighth Norfolk district) and Senator Pamela P. Resor (Middlesex
and Worcester district) who worked tirelessly for the rights of
Massachusetts students."
The DOE student choice policy provides that "all public schools that offer
dissection as a learning activity should, upon written request by a
student's parent or guardian, permit a student who chooses not to
participate in dissection to demonstrate competency through an alternative
method." ESEC testified before the DOE and the Massachusetts legislature
and supplied the Education Commissioner, his Board, and legislative
leadership with expert information on the necessity and advantages of
protecting dissection choice.
ESEC is now spreading the word to Massachusetts students by visiting
schools throughout the state starting tomorrow at North High School in
Worcester from 1:45pm - 3:00pm. Information on the DOE's policy language,
humane education bookmarks, magnets, and information on ESEC's free loan
program will be distributed.
The ESEC team will also be visiting schools in Boston, Springfield, and
Cambridge. There are also plans for outreach in Rhode Island and Maine --
other New England states that support a student's right to alternatives.
Currently, 14 U.S. states have dissection choice laws or policies.