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Dissection Choice: Know the Law

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If your student chooses to not dissect an animal and is given a hard time, explain to the teacher that you know the state policy. For example in Massachusetts the 2005 State Board of Education Policy gives anyone the right to refuse to cut up animals. In fact Massachusetts residents can mention the following policy:

“All public schools that offer dissection as a learning activity should, upon written request by a student’s parent or guardian, permit a student who chooses not to participate in dissection to demonstrate competency through an alternative method.” [2005 MA State Board of Education Policy]

Look up the policy where you live and have it ready to go to avoid being intimidated.

Dissection Choice

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Many students feel the stress of peer pressure and fear of repercussions by the teacher when not wanting to dissect animals in biology classes. These students find cutting up animals to be morally objectionable, yet feel forced to do so. In fact this moral dilemma can cause grades to go way down. Some people do not realize that even though each year, 10 million animals (including frogs, cats, and fetal pigs) are killed and then cut up in classrooms across the country, humane alternatives do exist. Studies have shown that students who use alternatives to dissection perform just as well as, if not better than students who cut up animals. In most states students have the right to refuse to dissect animals if they choose and most do not even realize it. The reality is your student does not have to dissect animals if they do not want to and it is the school’s responsibility to find alternatives for each student.

Drug Controversy in Public Schools

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Many high schools throughout the country have started to take extreme and varied measures to ensure drugs are kept out of the schools. Some different yet controversial drug prevention methods include:
At more than 100 high schools in Eastern Massachusetts, drug-sniffing dogs are brought in every year to search for everything from alcohol to marijuana.
In Quincy, MA video cameras follow students in the hallways while plainclothes security guards stay alert for drug activity.
At Westford Academy in Westford, MA the principal decided to add a full time police officer to the staff.
Newton North High School in Newton, MA feels that counseling is the best way to rid the school of drugs. The school has on staff a social worker acting as the school’s prevention and intervention counselor. This person offers several group therapy sessions for students including for youths who are struggling with alcohol and drugs.
All of these schools have a common goal of preventing drug use. Which methods do you think are best and which do you think are going too far? Share your comments.

Counterfeit ADHD Medication on the Rise

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The US Food and Drug Administration has sent out a warning about counterfeit versions of the ADHD drug Adderall 30 mg available to purchase on-line. Adderall has been in short supply for months. According to the FDA, the counterfeit version of this drug contains the wrong active ingredients. They warn that Adderall may be fake if it has any of the following:

Pills come in a blister package

There are misspellings on the package such as “NDS” instead of “NDC”, “Aspartrte” instead of “Aspartate”, or “Singel” instead of “Single”.

The tablets have no markings on them.

Be sure to check for these misspellings and errors on drug store purchased medications too.

Antifreeze Poisoning in Massachusetts

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As of 2011, Massachusetts law requires the addition of a bittering agent to retail containers of antifreeze to deter ingestion and poisonings of children and animals. However, many people get their cars serviced at garages, which use wholesale containers of antifreeze that are not treated with a bittering agent. Leaks of untreated antifreeze still result in poisonings. In MA legislation has been filed that would require that wholesale containers, such as those used at automotive service stations, also contain a bittering agent to prevent ingestion. Find out what your state requires and speak to your representatives about a national law.

Solution to the Antifreeze Death Problem

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One solution to the antifreeze death problem is to require all antifreeze manufacturers to add in a non-toxic bittering agent that makes it taste awful. This will save countless lives of children and pets. Many states, and even some cities, are considering legislation requiring the addition of the bitterent denatonium benzoate to antifreeze. This would make the antifreeze virtually impossible for a child or animal to be poisoned by the usually sweet-tasting liquid. Find out if this is required where you live.

4th of July Thank You

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On a personal note, I live next door to a surviving D-Day veteran from World War II. I thank him all the time for his heroics. I let him know that if it weren’t for brave people like himself, we would all be speaking either German or Japanese right now. Thank you Seth and all the people that have given their lives for what we will be enjoying this weekend. Have a happy and safe 4th of July.

4th of July Weekend

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On this 4th of July weekend, please take a moment to thank a veteran or anyone that has served our country. The United States of America would not continue to have birthdays without them. It is because of these men and women, that we are able to have such fine celebrations as the ones this weekend.

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