We performed the fetal pig dissection lab in Living Environment class yesterday. I was skeptical of doing this lab with the kids I have because they tend toward immaturity. I only teach one section of Living Environment and the other Biology teacher did her dissections about two weeks ago, which led to much curiosity amongst my students as they heard tales of the experience from friends in other classes. Based on their enthusiasm at the mention of the possibility of performing the dissection, I decided to forge ahead and let them cut. It is an excellent learning activity, the kind that stays with a kid long after high school is over. I didn't want to deprive them of that experience, but I didn't want to create a management nightmare for myself.
For a week prior to the cutting day, I talked about the dissection in class and the maturity and deference required to get the most from the experience. As the week passed, three of my problem children were suspended for various tomfoolery, leaving me with fewer gremlins to worry about and assuaging my fears of putting scalpels in their hands. I managed to pump the kids up and get them really excited about the learning experience.
On the day of the cut, I posted three rules on my board in BRIGHT RED MARKER.
- ZERO TOLERANCE.
- SHOW RESPECT.
- ASK QUESTIONS!
No rules would be broken today. Break one, you're out, no second chances. Respect must be paid to the scientific specimens who gave their lives so that you could learn today. Do not play with the parts, do not cut unless instructed to, and treat it with the care deserved by a precious, living thing. To throw in a positive, I encouraged them to ask lots of questions, which they did!
Everyone who showed up on time for class and heard my rules had no trouble meeting my expectations. To minimize management issues, I put the kids into four groups of four and rearranged my room along an aisle, putting two groups facing me on each side as I walked up and down the middle to help individual groups. I watched closely for the first few minutes, saw that they understood my expectations, and then I began to circulate throughout the room.
During the dissection, one girl asked me if she could take out her cell phone and take pictures of the pig as her group explored it. I was hesitant at first, but I laid down ground rules for phone usage and let them take pictures. I figure there is no harm in documenting the experience. Engrossed in the activity, no one attempted to text message, call anyone, or play any games on their cell phones while they had them out. For once, I have found a positive effect of cell phones in the classroom. When they go home from school, they can show their parents something cool they did in class today. Anything that gets them thinking about science outside of school is dandy in my book.
All went well until one girl who strolled in late decided that it would be great fun to cut off the pig's tail and twirl it around like a helicopter blade. I asked her where it said to make that cut in the directions. No answer. Did I say to make that cut? No. Should you be twirling the tail around like that? No. I reiterated my message of respect and familiarized her with my expectations for the experience.
Fast forward to the very end of the experience. Our eviscerated pigs have been dissected and it's time to clean up. I see the pig mutilating girl picking up her tailless pig and dancing it on the dissection tray for the amusement of her friends. I'm pissed off.
"What are you doing? Put the pig down. Show respect."
"But Mister, it was nothing, just having fun."
"Would you like it if someone picked up your body after you died and made you dance? Would that be funny?"
"YOU'RE IGNORANT! YOU'RE IGNORANT!" She screams this at me several times, leaving me dumbfounded.
"No, I'm not ignorant. You are. Take your stuff and get out of here."
I suppose she did not like the fact that I pierced her veil of immortality, clueing her into the fact that she, like the pig, will meet her own demise someday, which led her to the rousing conclusion of my ignorance. Clearly, she is a vampire or other undying being and I was insensitive to this fact. Silliness aside, I removed her from class without delay.
I can only hope that my class does as well next week!
Thanks
March 26th, 2009 at 9:19 am
I remember those days…it was a frog and my lab partner did the “Hello my baby, Hello my darlin…” routine with our pre-cut frog. Then at the end proceeded to cut the toes off of the poor thing and they flug across the room and into people’s hair. He was suspended for 5 days…too bad the same rules don’t apply now.
March 31st, 2009 at 11:34 am