Public Policy: Animals in Primary/Secondary Education

The Animal Rescue League of Boston (ARL) appreciates that animals play an important role in educating children in and out of the classroom. Massachusetts prohibits lessons in public schools that harm live animals. ARL encourages school departments and teachers to go beyond this requirement and choose lessons that prioritize animal welfare and reinforce to students the importance of humane interaction with animals.

Dissection

ARL opposes the use of animals for dissection purposes in primary and secondary education and encourages schools to seek alternate methods of teaching this content.2 Technology now allows students to learn from virtual depictions or life-like models without causing unnecessary animal breeding and death. ARL supports the use of these options over the use of animals.

Live Animals in the Classroom

Teachers may choose to include live animals in the classroom.  ARL believes that all classroom animals should have a primary caretaker who ensures that the animal’s well-being is paramount by providing for the animal’s medical, behavioral, and housing needs and ensuring that participation in the educational process is not causing the animal undue stress.

View ARL’s full list of Animal Welfare Policy and Position Statements

[1] M.G.L. 272 § 80G

2 http://www.doe.mass.edu/frameworks/scitech/2016-04/AppendixXII.pdf