By Louis Hoglund
ýClinical distanceý is not yet a concept fourth graders are necessarily exposed to.
But by the time Dr. Bill Rose gets through carving up a pigýs heart in front of the classroom, theyýve attained a clinical objectivity--even if they donýt know it.
ýWeýve rarely had a problem with the kids--as long as you hold their interest, and they are focused,ý said Rose, who has been dissecting pig hearts Perham in front of fourth graders for about a dozen years.
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On only a couple of occasions has a student started to feel queasy or faint, said Rose. ýThere have been a few pale faces over the years, but usually the kids do fine,ý
For most of Perhamýs students, Roseýs demonstration is their introduction to scientific dissection. It is a component of the health unit, studying the heart.
ýNow, if you feel queasy, donýt make a big deal out of it--just quietly sit down at your desk...donýt say ýgrossý or ýyuck,ýý said fourth grade teacher Marcia McEachran as she prepped her students for the demonstration.
ýRemember, you are all scientists today,ý she added, encouraging students to observe with a ýclinical distance.ý
Aorta, valves, ventricle, papillary muscle, atrio-ventriculer muscle...these are among the terms learned by the students. The pig heart is the most similar to the human heart, which is why it is a good learning tool.
Dr. Rose demonstrated also for the students in Terri Cresapýs class.
