Humane Treatment of Animals

UPDATE: See this post for more info.

New York State Consolidated Laws: Education: Article 17: S 809.Instruction in the humane treatment of animals (Scanned by me - not found on internet)

At the recent professional development session at the Bronx Zoo, a number of teachers asserted that students were not allowed to perform any experiments that involved animals. This was based on information passed down from science coordinators or science supervisors in the school or district.

Just to clear the air a little bit. It may well be that an overzealous administrator mis- or over-interpreted the law, but the law of New York State does not forbid animal experiments provided animals are treated humanely and not seriously harmed. I have never heard of nor seen any New York City or Department of Education regulations that are any more strict than NY State. Here's a quote from the pertinent paragraph (formatting altered for readability):

5. Treatment of live vertebrate animals.

a. Except as provided for in this subdivision, no school district, school principal, administrator, or teacher shall require or permit the performance of a lesson or experimental study on a live vertebrate animal in any such school or during any activity conducted under the auspices of such school whether or not the activity takes place on the premises of such school where such lesson or experimental study employs:

(i) micro-organisms which cause disease in humans or animals,
(ii) ionizing radiation,
(iii) known cancer producing agents,
(iv) chemicals at toxic levels,
(v) drugs producing pain or deformity,
(vi) severe extremes of temperature,
(vii) electric or other shock,
(viii) excessive noise,
(ix) noxious fumes,
(x) exercise to exhaustion,
(xi) overcrowding,
(xii) paralysis by muscle relaxants or other means,
(xiii) deprivation or excess of food, water or other essential nutrients,
(xiv) surgery or other invasive procedures,
(xv) other extreme stimuli, or
(xvi) termination of life.

Pretty common sense regulations. Don't abuse the animals. Do the research ahead of time to find out what ranges of conditions the animal can tolerate without adverse effects. Conduct your studies within that range. When in doubt, and no information can be found, reconsider the experiment.

The only references I can find to NY City guidelines can be found in the New York City Board of Education Science Safety Manual. No prohibitions against animal studies are to be found in this document. I sincerely invite anyone to find contradictory information in writing from the state, city, or department of education.