My son, a 6th grader at SEMS West, came home last week with a slip asking for permission to participate in a squid dissection. I signed the form to allow him to dissect. He came home and told us what happened that day… one of the first things that came out of his mouth was that they got to eat it!!! My first thought… he did not just say that!!! The squid were brought to the school frozen and thawed outside in the sun, the squid were given to the students and their dissection tools consisted of no more than a plastic picnic knife and a paper plate. The squid was cut up and cooked outside, the children were encouraged to eat as much as they wanted. I can understand if they bought some frozen calamari rings at the store and cooked them to let the kids know what it might taste like, but this is totally unacceptable!! Absolutely barbaric!! By the end of the story, I was absolutely livid… still am, if you can’t tell! My husband immediately jumps on the computer to email the principal of the school. It has been 4 days and we have still heard nothing from her. We have had problems with this teacher since the beginning of the school year, but I would have never thought that she would be so unprofessional!
Has anyone else heard this story from their children? Am I overreacting?
Any thoughts?
My son is younger so haven’t heard about that.
Can’t say if you are overreacting, don’t know you to say that
However, it sounds like fun to me!! At least it was cooked and they used plastic knives and forks (like they can’t hurt anyone). I remember once in school we went outside and picked dandilions, then cooked them in a crockpot, and then ate them. Wasn’t too bad, just put them on some crackers.
Hard to say if you’re overreacting without knowing which part has you upset. Is it that he ate squid without you knowing about? He cut up squid in it’s natural form before eating it? That it was thawed in the sun before he cut it up? Or that you thought your son would learn about dissection when instead he only learned how to cut his food into chewable pieces?
I would maybe be frustrated they called the event a dissection (unless they actually DID the dissection and then ate it). But I wouldn’t have a problem with my son eating it. I certainly wouldn’t consider it barbaric.
But then I grew up spending summers on my dad’s fishing boat and am quite used to lunching on all things directly from the sea.
Are you questioning the possible lack of hygene in regards to something your son was eating? Also the possibility for sickness because proper handling and cooking of seafood was questionable? I would be concerned because it doesn’t seem safe to have seafood thawing out in the sun.
Hard to say if you’re overreacting without knowing which part has you upset. Is it that he ate squid without you knowing about? He cut up squid in it’s natural form before eating it? That it was thawed in the sun before he cut it up? Or that you thought your son would learn about dissection when instead he only learned how to cut his food into chewable pieces?
I would maybe be frustrated they called the event a dissection (unless they actually DID the dissection and then ate it). But I wouldn’t have a problem with my son eating it. I certainly wouldn’t consider it barbaric.
But then I grew up spending summers on my dad’s fishing boat and am quite used to lunching on all things directly from the sea.
No, I am not upset about him eating something without me knowing or that it was cut up in it’s natural form. More than anything, it upsets me that it was “supposed” to be a dissection and not a cooking lesson. I really just thought it would be more professional in nature.... maybe gloves and proper dissection tools could have been used. And maybe thawed out in the refrigerator…
Not to be a pain, but lunching with your Dad on fresh caught seafood is totally different from science class.
Not a pain at all. That’s why I asked you to clarify what had you upset.
I wrongly assumed by your ‘barbaric’ comment that you had some issues with cutting up dethawed squid given you didn’t seem opposed to eating packaged squid. I was only giving background as explanation of why I wouldn’t have a problem with that since often times life experiences are what shapes your opinions and thoughts.
As I already stated, I would be a bit irked they called the event a dissection as well.
We did this when I was in 9th grade...back in the early 80’s at a Baltimore County school. Disected it, the teacher fried it up, then we all ate a little piece.
/supposed to have eaten with saltine crackers, but Ricky Dingman (his real name) ate the whole package of crackers
//better to have eaten the squid then the feral pig or cow’s eye we also had to disect…
Facts about the squid dissection: 1. There was a three page step-by-step lab procedure for students to follow and repond in dissecting squid. 2. The squid were thawed in cool water and cooked in the shade on a cool day. 3. Plastic knives and paper plates were used as sanitary precautions. 4. Parent permission was required. Eating the calamari was each individual’s choice. 5. Giant Food Store donated the sqid. 6. A lot of teacher preparation went into this activity. 7. As a result of the parent’s concerns, teachers this year are no longer allowed to cook the squid. My opinion: 1. Dissecting a cooking squid is a very enjoyable learning experience. Not only did students learn about the organs and systems of squid and the comparison to other animals, they also learned that calamari just doesn’t come in a box in the grocery store. For many students it was the first time they tasted squid. Many stated that they liked it. 2. Parents, please have the courtesy to contact the teachers first to be sure your facts are correct. 3. Let’s hear some positive things about our school.
As a result of the parent’s concerns, teachers this year are no longer allowed to cook the squid.
So once again it only takes one complaint to ruin it for everyone else? My only concern would be the food handling, certainly not the eating. If the squid is properly handled, then I’d have no problem with it. Back in the 70’s my 10th grade biology teacher cooked squid, octopus, and snails for us. Tasted good! The only thing I think needs to be changed is the permission slip should say the disected squid are going to be eaten.
Although I have already spoken with the teacher and the principal and learned the facts of the “dissection”, I do appreciate your post. I would have appreciated a permission slip that went into more detail and also that it was not labeled a dissection. As I stated earlier, the permission slip did not mention how the squid were to be “dissected” and that the students were going to be able to eat it. From the story I got, you would think he was in home ec learning how to cook squid. You said that there was a 3 page lab guide, my son informed me that number one on the guide said to wear gloves, an apron, and goggles… are we trying to teach our kids to ignore all safety precautions… they are there for a reason. Unfortunately, we as parents do not hear everything that goes on in class, as it turns out the students were told that if they wanted to wear gloves to bring them in. If I would have known the school couldn’t afford a box of gloves, or goggles, or an apron, I would have sent them in. In the future, it would be best to make sure parents are completely informed.
Just for your information, this is my only post regarding the schools. We moved from Anne Arundel County in MD to get away from the awful schools and crime. We actually homeschooled while in MD. My husband still works on Fort Meade and at least once a week in Manassass, VA. That is until he leaves to the middle east for a year, we wanted to make sure the children and myself were in a safe environment when he leaves, our closest family is in Utah. We sacrifice steep gas prices, insane school taxes, a 2+ hour daily commute, less family time because of that commute, and we are also at least an hour away from good friends. All because we wanted to have our children in better schools and live in a safer and more friendly community. I have 2 children at SEMS West and 2 children at Stewartstown Elementary. My only gripe is what I felt was a lack of professionalism and proper supplies for this specific incident.
As a result of the parent’s concerns, teachers this year are no longer allowed to cook the squid.
So once again it only takes one complaint to ruin it for everyone else?
Yep seems thats how things work around here...
Not just around here, this is the society we live in nowadays. C’mon, we all take our shoes off before getting on an airplane due to ONE PERSON!!!!!!!!
As a result of the parent’s concerns, teachers this year are no longer allowed to cook the squid.
So once again it only takes one complaint to ruin it for everyone else?
Yep seems thats how things work around here...
Not just around here, this is the society we live in nowadays. C’mon, we all take our shoes off before getting on an airplane due to ONE PERSON!!!!!!!!
Yes very good point THankfully I haven’t had to do that the last few times I have flown
Facts about the squid dissection: 1. There was a three page step-by-step lab procedure for students to follow and repond in dissecting squid. 2. The squid were thawed in cool water and cooked in the shade on a cool day. 3. Plastic knives and paper plates were used as sanitary precautions. 4. Parent permission was required. Eating the calamari was each individual’s choice. 5. Giant Food Store donated the sqid. 6. A lot of teacher preparation went into this activity. 7. As a result of the parent’s concerns, teachers this year are no longer allowed to cook the squid. My opinion: 1. Dissecting a cooking squid is a very enjoyable learning experience. Not only did students learn about the organs and systems of squid and the comparison to other animals, they also learned that calamari just doesn’t come in a box in the grocery store. For many students it was the first time they tasted squid. Many stated that they liked it. 2. Parents, please have the courtesy to contact the teachers first to be sure your facts are correct. 3. Let’s hear some positive things about our school.
My child came home last week or before and told me all about the squid experience. My child enjoyed it! I thought it is a great idea. I asked my child if the squids were eaten and the answer was “no, because we are not allowed to anymore”. Thanks to someone complaining, my child missed out on the eating part of it!
My dad went to SESD long ago and he said they use to bring in bull eyes and other bull parts and dissect it in science class!! I guess my child will never experience that kid of fun stuff in class in today’s world.
My daughter participated in this last year. She loved it! She was very excited about eating it and said it tasted good.
Maybe instead of making all the kids miss out, have parent’s sign permission slips stating whether they can eat it or not. My daughter looked forward to that part the most!
and dissect it in science class!! I guess my child will never experience that kid of fun stuff in class in today’s world.
