As teachers, it is important that we educate our students on both sides of an argument- especially those that are controversial. One such topic is animal testing. It is an issue that arouses strong emotions on both sides, and it is necessary for students to be well informed on the topic. In this article, we will cover arguments for animal testing that can be used by teachers in the classroom.
1) Animal Testing has provided many medical advancements
One of the primary arguments in favor of animal testing is that it has led to many medical advancements. The use of animals in research has helped develop almost every important medical breakthrough. While that doesn’t necessarily justify animal testing in and of itself, it does underscore how such research is vital to the medical field and for saving human lives.
2) Animals are biologically similar to humans
This point is important, as many animal rights activists don’t feel that animals should be used in experiments at all, and that humans should be used instead. The truth is that animals are biologically similar to humans in many ways – with some animal models having similar immune systems and experiencing similar diseases to those in humans. These similarities allow researchers and scientists to predict the potential effect of a drug or a therapy on humans.
3) Alternative methods for testing are not always reliable
Another common argument from supporters of animal testing is that alternative methods for testing are not always reliable, and most of the time they may not give the same results as animal testing. In-vitro methods are not sophisticated enough to guarantee the safety of certain drugs or chemicals. Moreover, these methods don’t imitate the same interactions that a drug would have with a whole organism or a living system.
4) Animal testing is a very tightly regulated process
It is important for students to know that animal testing is regulated by government bodies who employ strict laws in order to reduce unnecessary animal suffering. For example, there is a requirement for veterinary carer and monitoring whilst the animals are housed in a facility. Overall, the goal of this regulation is to ensure that animal tests are done in a healthy, humane way.
Conclusion
Animal testing is a difficult topic for many students, and it’s important for them to understand the full range of arguments in this discussion. By teaching students some of the key points in favor of animal testing, we are not asking them to take a specific stance on the issue, but rather to think critically about the benefits and potential drawbacks of different viewpoints. Ultimately, our role as educators is to provide our students with the facts, and allow them to make their own informed judgments on the matter.
