In certain primary schools odd selections of insects and small animals are incarcerated in inadequate and unsuitable conditions, to be petted, fondled and "studied" as the children munch their meat-pies and chicken-paste sandwiches. Alone these little prisoners suffer the long evenings and interminable weekends. They have been known to die, these quivering scraps of life during holiday periods when forgotten in the rush and excitement of departure they are left with thirst and starvation as sole companions.

... And so to college

and the vivarium, housing the frogs and containing furry white inquisitive rodents with pink hands, feet and noses. Doomed , they are displayed at parents' evenings. The labels on the cages unashamedly shrieking the words "for behavioural studies and dissection". Who complains? Who wants to upset the system on a social occasion when students, parents and teachers are on best behaviour?.. Who wants to be thought a crank? This is the son's UE year.. "Come and meet the headmaster.".. "Johnnie's doing nicely thank you.." and "Have another piece of cake.." Do any of these parents have a twinge of conscience?

There are no rules regarding dissection in schools : - Minister of Education tells NZAVS

... And so to university

Ensconced, the student is given a rat to mutilate... study its ovaries, uterus, vagina. Whilst fiddling and probing parts best left private to the rat the student is instructed to "ignore all squeaks of outrage" (note the flippant manipulation of language) and after three weeks to kill the rat, dissect out the reproductive system and make sure he has a good length of vagina!

And so our youth is set on the path signposted cruel methods, and unless he opts out into a different career then his destination of cruel objectives is inescapable.

The power of science without the control of compassion and admiration for life is too immense to be applied merely for the satisfaction of scientific curiosity. If biology were taught in a manner that developed a sense of wonder and of reverence for life, and if students felt inwardly enriched from their study of life, these students would formulate as a life-long goal the steadfast determination to protect and preserve all life and would bring healing to a world desperately in need of it.
- George K. Russell (Assoc. Professor of Biology at Adelphi University in New York), American Biology Teacher, 1972

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