Say Yes to

Dissect
Anatomy and
Physiology

Hannah Ivey 4th period

Hannah Ivey
4th period
Anatomy and Physiology
Giannou
10-26-2015
Say Yes to Dissect

From dissecting owl pellets in elementary school to cats in high school, dissection in the
classroom has been considered by many a rite of passage. However, the argument over these
dissections and their relevancy nowadays is increasingly apparent. High school dissections are a
necessary part of curriculum because of their obvious contributions to development in teamwork,
experience with the tools, as well as allowing students to gain knowledge of parts and systems
within the body.
Teamwork is a required skill for many jobs as well as many aspects of life. It is a building
block that allows others, regardless of differences, to come together and work on achieving
something specific. Working within a team can inspire many different and creative ideas as well
as foster a sense of self-discipline due to the fact that working as a team requires each person to
carry their own weight in order for things to run smoothly. Dissection promotes this kind of
teamwork through peer interaction (Online Library). Students are partnering up and must work
together to correctly identify the organs and body systems. This alone can become a tedious and
frustrating task, however when working together, partners must be patient and empathetic
towards each other and accept the mistakes of their peers. In many situations students must also
meet in the middle and compromise on who does what because of the squeamishness that comes
with dissection.
A portion of that squeamishness stems from the intimidation of the tools used in
dissections. These tools can be dangerous and unsafe if used improperly. However, high school is
a time for experiences and finding your passions; if you want to become a doctor, it is extremely
beneficial to learn how to use the necessary tools in advance. In the directions left by a teacher, it
is stated that one purpose for the dissection will be to help [them] familiarize [themselves] with

Hannah Ivey
4th period
Anatomy and Physiology
Giannou
10-26-2015
Say Yes to Dissect

the dissecting tools and procedures (Crayfish Dissection). The best way to know how to do
something is to gain hands on experience; similar to how holding a steering wheel in a video
game does not mean you know how to drive.
While participating in interactive dissections and studying diagrams of organs and body
systems is effective, it is not quite as efficient as looking at the real deal. Dissection is a very
valuable tool for visualizing the anatomical structure of different animals and species (Home
Science Tools), the original purpose of dissections is to learn the anatomy of whatever organism
is being dissected. It has also been stated that we learn more through dissections (Home
Science Tools) because it is engaging multiple senses and allows the students to visually and
tangibly understand how different organs work.
Although there are many sources stating the importance of dissections, there is a strong
argument against it as well. Many people believe that dissections should not be performed in a
high school classroom because they go against students morals. This valid point has caused a law
to be put in place that protects said students and allows opting out of any dissection if it is
against their morals or beliefs. The value of dissections is also disputed by those that believe they
can be easily replaced by technology and virtual dissections. Various studies have shown that in
high school, the test scores of those that learn virtually compared to those that learn through
hands on dissections are practically the same (Online Library), however later on in college this
differentiation in learning can cause the virtual testers to score much lower than the hands on
testers. Which makes the whole idea of dissections in high school much more appealing because
these students will already know the basics such as dissection procedure by the time they enter
college.

Hannah Ivey
4th period
Anatomy and Physiology
Giannou
10-26-2015
Say Yes to Dissect

Dissection in the high school environment allows for students to further their education in
anatomy and physiology. It also encourages advances in teamwork abilities, familiarization with
the tools, and expands the knowledge of the body. Dissections are crucial in helping students to
find their passions and pursue them and are an extremely useful part of the educational
curriculum that is indisputably irreplaceable.

Hannah Ivey
4th period
Anatomy and Physiology
Giannou
10-26-2015
Say Yes to Dissect

Works Cited
Martinez, Jose. "Crayfish Dissection." How to Dissect a Crayfish. Blogspot, 29 Nov. 2006. Web.
25 Oct. 2015.

Elizondo-Omana, Rodrigo E., Santos Guzman-Lopez, and Maria De Los Angeles GarciaRodriguez. "The Anatomical Record Part B: The New AnatomistVolume 285B, Issue 1,
Article First Published Online: 19 JUL 2005." Dissection as a Teaching Tool: Past,
Present, and Future. Wiley Online Library, 2005. Web. 25 Oct. 2015.

"NSTA Position Statement." Responsible Use of Live Animals and Dissection in the Science
Classroom. National Science Teachers Association, Mar. 2008. Web. 25 Oct. 2015.

"Dissection FAQ." Dissection FAQ. Home Science Tools, 2015. Web. 25 Oct. 2015.