Breaking Barriers in STEM: This Teen’s Stand Against Animal Dissection

Advocating for something you believe in takes bravery and compassion, but your dedication to speaking out is totally worth it when you see the positive impact it can have. Sienna Roth, a college freshman, knows this all too well. When she was in high school, her teacher asked her class to dissect pigs. Sienna was adamant about not using an animal and was determined to find a different way to learn.

check out her testimony:

Two of my many goals in life are to become a nurse and to advocate for animal rights. For a moment, those two seemed mutually exclusive. In my senior year of high school, I took an anatomy and physiology class, which involved two dissections. When I asked for an alternative assignment, my teacher and an administrator at my school asked me why I was taking the class and suggested that I drop it. 

As a young woman pursuing a career in STEM, this felt extremely wrong. I reached out to PETA TeachKind and they helped me learn about my legal right to opt out of dissection. After the initial opposition, I was able to do an alternative assignment, but I had to fight for it. I had to meet with people who worked at the school district and while they were so supportive, I still had to take the time to advocate for rights that should have been integrated well before any of this happened. 

During the two dissections, I heard my classmates telling me they wished they had also done the alternative assignment. Not only were they disgusted and saddened by it, but I had a higher score on the dissection test anyway. I was able to get the help I needed to fight for my rights and ensure I was doing the assignment that best aligned with my personal beliefs, but I know many students don’t feel comfortable speaking up. I understand the fear that comes along with confrontation, but you have to advocate for your own education and my situation was greatly improved once I did that.

We asked Sienna why advocating against animal dissection is so important to her, and she said, “Speaking out against animal dissection is so important to me because the animals can’t speak for themselves. I am honored that I got to be the voice for both animals and students who don’t have this opportunity.”

animal dissection is seriously outdated and problematic

Millions of animals suffer and die each year just for dissection lessons, which sends the wrong message that animals are disposable tools instead of living beings who deserve respect. Thankfully, modern methods help us learn without harming animals and promote a culture of empathy and respect. It’s time to ditch using dead animals and embrace these innovative, ethical approaches to science education.

When asked what she learned from refusing to dissect animals at school, Sienna said, “It is so important to make your needs known and advocate for yourself. I knew that dissection did not align with my morals, and I reached out to people and talked to my teacher and others in my school district, and I was able to make a change. But none of that would have been possible if I hadn’t advocated for myself in the first place.”

Sienna’s story reminds us that every voice matters and that standing up for what you believe in can lead to meaningful change. Her dedication to ending animal dissection is truly inspiring, and we’re honoring her with our Hero to Animals award.

Sienna also recently testified in support of the CLASS Act. If passed, the CLASS Act would protect California students’ right to opt out of animal dissection by requiring written notice, giving students the right to ask for sourcing info on where animals come from, and encouraging a phase-out of animal dissection by 2028.

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“To others who want to speak up for animals, my main advice is to just reach out to others and get help when you need it. There are so many resources and organizations willing to help you, and all you need to do is reach out. Build connections, and eventually, you’ll be able to be that voice for animals.”

here’s how you can be a hero to animals, too

Any student can take a page out of Sienna’s book by saying no to animal dissection. If you need help opting out of cruel dissection assignments at your school, remember that depending on where you live, you may have legal rights that require your teacher to give you an animal-free option.

Learn more about how to get animal-free options in your classroom and what to do if you’re met with opposition, too.