Jeffco Public Schools Offer Non-Animal Teaching Methods to Elementary, Secondary, and High School Students
For Immediate Release:
March 16, 2011
Contact:
Shakira Croce 202-483-7382
Jefferson County, Colo.— For offering non-animal options to all science students in every public school in the district—even though dissection alternatives are not yet required by the state of Colorado—the Jeffco Public Schools has won a Compassionate School District Award from TeachKind, PETA's humane-education division.
"Thanks to Jeffco Public Schools, science students at all levels will be able to choose not to dissect," says PETA Executive Vice President Tracy Reiman. "The district's compassionate decision shows respect for students and animals—and now all students will receive the highest-quality education available."
Each year in the U.S., an estimated 10 million animals are killed for dissection. Many come from biological supply houses, which breed some animals and obtain others from animal shelters or the wild. Non-animal teaching methods such as interactive computer programs have been shown to teach biology as well as, and in many cases better than, animal-based methods, and they also save time and money. The National Science Teachers Association's official position statement endorses the use of modern non-animal methods as replacements for animal dissection and encourages teachers to be responsive to students' ethical concerns.
Jeffco Public Schools will receive a framed certificate and a letter of congratulations from PETA.
For more information, please visit PETA.org or TeachKind.org.