I’ll never forget the day I walked into biology class and saw a stack of fetal pigs lying in a pile on the front table. I was not a vegetarian at the time, but the sight of all those innocent pigs lying before me brought up strong feelings of sadness.

The class began with a disgusting introduction to dissection by the instructor. She cuddled one of the dead fetal pigs while explaining exactly how to break the bones. She then kissed the pig and passed out the dissection equipment. Next, each student was given a pig to dissect. I was horrified as I opened up the bag containing my pig. The little pig appeared to be sleeping peacefully. His little eyes were shut and he still had hair on him. However, I knew this little piggy would never wake-up.

I began the dissection but found it difficult. I had to get the instructor to break his jaw and tie him down to my dissection tray because I could not stand breaking his little bones. I slowly completed the dissection while wrestling with my conscious. However, no one else around me seemed to be bothered. The person next to me was playing with her pig, making it talk and wave to people around her. Another boy cut off the head (even though it was not a part of the dissection) and went around putting it on people’s shoulders. It was sickening to me that these people could take such pleasure in continuing to violate the pitiful animal.

At the end of class I confronted the instructor and asked her if she really believed it was ok to kill all of those innocent animals just so we could take a look at their innards. She gave me a typical biology teacher response. She claimed that it was ok to kill the pigs because the pigs were bred for one purpose and one purpose only; to die. I left without saying a word. I knew in my heart that what had taken place in that classroom was a huge injustice to animals and that my principles would have to change.

Today, I still cannot understand what the purpose of dissection is. I know firsthand that high school students do not take it seriously enough for it to be considered educational. The only thing students learn is that it is acceptable to kill and abuse animals. It also encourages the pointless abuse of animals. For example, a boy who took the biology class with me went home after the pig dissection and caught and dissected a live frog. Moral standards are often compromised and lowered because of the practice of dissection. Dissection is simply a course on how to be cruel to animals. This is one lesson that kids can live without.

--Lauren is in 10th grade and has been vegetarian for one year. "I went vegetarian because I learned about the horrible abuse of animals that goes on in the slaughter industry. I also did it for health reasons. Having something that I stand for and am highly vocal and opinionated about is really cool. It gives me a sense of meaning in life."