Local News
District keeps hands-on lesson
Marc Valero | Highlands Today
Published: September 16, 2012
SEBRING - Dissections will remain a hands-on experience for some School Board of Highlands County students with Superintendent Wally Cox overruling a decision by a district administrator who wanted to change exclusively to virtual dissections.Published: September 16, 2012
"Based on parent, teacher, school board and community input, we are going to continue to allow specimen dissection in appropriate science courses," Cox stated recently in an email to high school principals.
At two meetings in June, the school board discussed Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum/Instruction Rebecca Fleck's decision to end hands-on dissections in favor of virtual (computer-based) dissections.
To save money, the district will use a grant that will provide, at no cost, virtual resources and training for virtual dissections, Fleck said.
The grant requires a promise of no real dissections.
In a June memo to principals and teachers, Fleck said there has been some resistance to change. However, the cost of purchasing specimens is prohibitive and uses far too much of the budget for science consumables.
Word of the decision to end specimen dissections, with quotes or links to the Highlands Today stories on the issue, turned up on the websites of The National Science Teachers Association, Education Week and the Oklahoma Science Teachers Association.
Board Chairman J. Ned Hancock opposed the end of hands-on dissections.
He said Wednesday people in the district and some of the professionals in the community, who have the expertise for it, believe that hands-on dissections should continue.
"I am not real sure how it got changed in the first place," Hancock added.
Teachers Union President Steve Picklesimer said in June, "If budget concerns were not so dominant, I believe our educational system would best be served by doing actual dissection and supplement the program with virtual dissection."
Many commented on the issue on Facebook.
Lou Mingacci of Sebring said: "Whatever the case may be, I hope whatever changes made are in the interest of our students to achieve and learn more. Darn I miss the days we had to do hands-on biology in school."
Phyllis Towzey, a St. Petersburg lawyer, said, "As an animal rights advocate, I applaud the decision to move to virtual dissection. Since studies have shown that virtual is as effective as actual at this level, killing animals for this purpose is a senseless waste."
Cierra Craft said, "As a student hoping to go into the medical field and become a medical examiner, I look forward to the end of the year dissections. I have dissected a mink and a pregnant cat. I know dissection isn't for everybody, but the experience is amazing."
Sonja Luchini said, "People don't get 'virtual illnesses.' I hope none of those kids grow up to be my doctor."