Skip to content
CapRadio

CapRadio

listen live donate
listen live donate
listen live
donate
  • News
    • News

    • State Government
    • Environment
    • Health Care
    • Race and Equity
    • Business
    • Arts and Lifestyle
    • Food and Sustainability
    • PolitiFact California
    News
    • News

    • State Government
    • Environment
    • Health Care
    • Race and Equity
    • Business
    • Arts and Lifestyle
    • Food and Sustainability
    • PolitiFact California
  • Music
    • Music

    • Classical
    • Jazz
    • Eclectic

    • Daily Playlist
    Music
    • Music

    • Classical
    • Jazz
    • Eclectic

    • Daily Playlist
  • Podcasts & Shows
  • Schedules
  • Events
  • Support
    • Support
    • Ways to support
    • Evergreen Donation
    • One-Time Donation
    • Corporate Sponsorship
    • Vehicle Donation
    • Stock Giving
    • Legacy Giving
    • Endowment Support
    • Members
    • Member Benefits
    • Member FAQ
    • Member Newsletter

    • Fund drives
    • Drawing Winners
    • Thank You Gifts
    Support
    • Support
    • Ways to support
    • Evergreen Donation
    • One-Time Donation
    • Corporate Sponsorship
    • Vehicle Donation
    • Stock Giving
    • Legacy Giving
    • Endowment Support
    • Members
    • Member Benefits
    • Member FAQ
    • Member Newsletter

    • Fund drives
    • Drawing Winners
    • Thank You Gifts
  • About
  • Close Menu
 We Get Support From:
Become a Supporter 
 We Get Support From:
Become a Supporter 
  • Environment
  •  

Ever Dissect A Frog In Grade School? In California, That May Become A Thing Of The Past

Wednesday, February 27, 2019 | Sacramento, CA
Listen
/
Update RequiredTo play audio, update browser or Flash plugin.
knittymarie / Flickr
 

knittymarie / Flickr

When Judie Mancuso was in grade school she opted out of dissecting frogs and other animals. For her the common practice was torture.

“I refused to be there, I didn’t want to be part of somewhere where they were cutting up animals,” said Mancuso, CEO of the group Social Compassion in Legislation.

That feeling is something she says many students still experience today, even though they are able to opt out of dissection. “It’s not that comfortable that a kid can just opt out, they’re seen as an outsider,” she added.

It’s Mancuso’s goal to end animal dissection in California.

A group of lawmakers and organizations — Social Compassion in Legislation, the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, and San Jose Democrat Assembly Member Ash Kalra — have created a bill, AB 1586, that would do just that.

If the bill becomes law it would ban all K-12 students from dissecting animals. More than 10 million animals are dissected in schools nationwide every year, according to reports PETA.  

“It’s a good time for us to move past dissection and in fact it’s not even required of the education code,” Kalra explains. “It’s been something that’s been a matter of course. I think it’s run its course.”

Kalra says dissecting animals is costly, hurts animals and the environment. The groups say there are better alternatives to killing animals for the use of dissection. They point to technology like 3-D printing and computer software. “It’s actually even better about teaching anatomy and biology and has assessment tools that match quite well,” she says.

Kalra says the digital software is already available and it's free. “The fact that we can save money and do the right thing as it applies to our animals is a win-win situation,” Kalra adds.

The California Science Teachers Association said in an email they were “not able to engage on the topic in the time allowed."


Follow us for more stories like this

CapRadio provides a trusted source of news because of you.  As a nonprofit organization, donations from people like you sustain the journalism that allows us to discover stories that are important to our audience. If you believe in what we do and support our mission, please donate today.

Donate Today  

More Environment Stories

AP Photo/Gregory Bull, File

Colorado River deal: What does it mean for California?

May 23, 2023

Andrew Nixon / CapRadio

Officials warn residents to stay out of California’s faster, colder river waters

May 24, 2023

AP Photo/Terry Chea

Almond hulls in your coffee? Some growers look to upcycle almond byproducts into food

May 25, 2023

We Get Support From:
Become a Supporter

Back to Top

  • CapRadio

    7055 Folsom Boulevard
    Sacramento, CA 95826-2625

    •  
      (916) 278-8900
    •  
      (877) 480-5900
    •  Contact / Feedback
    •  Submit a Tip / Story Idea
  • About

    • Mission / Vision / Core Values
    • Stations & Coverage Map
    • Careers & Internships
    • Staff Directory
    • Board of Directors
    • Press
  • Listening Options

    • Mobile Apps
    • Smart Speakers
    • Podcasts & Shows
    • On-Air Schedules
    • Daily Playlist
    • Signal Status
  • Connect

    •  Facebook
    •  Twitter
    •  Instagram
    •  YouTube
  • Donate

  • Listen Live

  • Newsletters

CapRadio stations are licensed to California State University, Sacramento. © 2023, Capital Public Radio. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Website Feedback FCC Public Files: KXJZ KKTO KUOP KQNC KXPR KXSR KXJS. For assistance accessing our public files, please call 916-278-8900 or email us.