Cutting edge controversy: The politics of animal dissection and responses to student objection

Abstract

This mixed methods study investigated the experiences and perspectives of former Ontario high school students and current Ontario science and biology teachers toward animal dissection, objection to dissection, and choice policies that grant students the right to opt out of dissection and use an alternative instead. Data was collected via a student questionnaire (n=311), a teacher questionnaire (n=153), and interviews with eight students and nine teachers. Quantitative and qualitative data analyses and reporting techniques were employed within a humane education and critical pedagogy framework to explore the experiences and perspectives of both groups.