The Use of Animals in Higher Education: Problems, Alternatives, & Recommendations

by Jonathan Balcombe

No Synopsis Available.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0965894215
• ISBN13: 9780965894210
• Release Date: January 2000
• Publisher: Humane Society of the United States
• Length: 104 Pages

Customer Reviews

Much on Secondary Education Also!

The Use of Animals in Higher Education is well-researched and annotated and international in scope, with a primary focus on the US. It addresses secondary education as strongly as higher education, with quite a focus on elementary education as well.After reading it, one is left wondering how the practice of dissection, in particular, has survived in our schools for this long. Every possible justification for dissection is held up, examined and found to be fatally flawed. Objections to dissection are also detailed, some that many may have never considered before, such as the dangers of formaldehyde exposure. The author points out that one school, at least, is now well aware of that danger: Mt. Saint Mary College, New York was fined $20,000 for various violations of OSHA standards, including exposing employees to formaldehyde and infectious substances.Of course, the primary objections to dissection remain: 1) the way animals are obtained and how they are killed, the lack of educational justification for these deaths and, in the case of wildlife, the impact on the environment; and 2) the effect that dissection has on the students' values and reverence for life, their attitudes toward biological studies and their career choices. For me, the most poignant section was that describing "procurement and animal suffering." The description of the animal suffering at Carolina Biological Supply Company was particularly disturbing and disheartening. Replacements for dissection are now plentiful, as the author makes clear, and being used successfully. Studies comparing student achievement show that students using these replacements score as high or higher than those learning via dissection, with only one dissenting study.Also powerful is a look at the sociological issues, especially germane when schools need to be doing all that they can to send the message that compassion and kindness matter in today's world. It is time to get rid of the "die section" at schools. Dissection is not the sole focus of this book. Also addressed are replacement alternatives to the use of live animals in education. The author cites the successful use of alternatives in all levels of education, including veterinary schools and medical schools. Many readers will be surprised to learn that about half of all the 126 U.S. medical schools -including such prestigious institutions as Mayo, Harvard, Columbia, and Yale -now have no live-animal laboratories. There is also good information in the book regarding the use of animals in elementary and secondary education, including a look at science fairs and laws and policies.

There's a better way to teach science

Balcombe's book is thoroughly researched, clear and concise. He shows how the use of animals in higher education entails and fosters animal abuse, impedes the ethical development of students, and is ineffective and counterproductive in teaching science. All this is a great contribution, but there's more. He also describes humane alternatives and makes specific recommendations that will improve science education and eliminate much animal suffering. I'm using this book in a course on "animal and human welfare," and I highly recommend it!