Remember the drama surrounding cutting into cold, pale worms and frogs
in high school biology class?

Some teachers still use it as a teaching tool, but more are moving
toward the numerous computer-simulated options for those types of
anatomy lessons.

For one thing software, available free or as a one-time purchase, is
cheaper than animal cadavers and less of a hurdle for squeamish
students.

Virginia is one of a handful of states that allows students to opt out
of dissections and do an alternative lesson if they object to
participating. A check of local school districts reveals that
dissections are used less often these days, but when they are very few
students opt out.

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full story:
http://www.dailypress.com/news/dp-local_dissection_1002oct02,0,5428094.story