My son's science teacher showed right wing funded global-warming-is-a-myth video

[usregimechange]

The principal subject of a Heartland Institute DVD that challenges the science of global warming says she was tricked into participating.

Rie Oldenburg, curator of the Narsaq Museum in Southern Greenland, says she was told that she was contributing to a video on Norse history. But she was horrified to learn that the interview was used to contribute to a DVD that denies the human contribution to climate change.

The video, Unstoppable Solar Cycles: The Real Story of Greenland, was produced by the Idea Channel, an advocacy organization that exists to promote the free-market economic theories of Milton Friedman. Idea Channel spokesperson Christina Belsky said last week that the video was funded by a private donor and by the Heartland Institute, which has been distributing it to high schools in Canada and sending it out, unsolicited, to other individuals. Belsky said the Idea Channel also plans to rework the material and send out a new version to schools in the United States through another right-wing advocacy organization called Izzit.org.

http://www.desmogblog.com/heartland-institute-tricked-video-subjects-in-unstoppable-solar-cycles

That one. I am composing an email to him, what should I say? Have you heard of these organizations or this video?

[Omaha Steve]

1. Demand Inconvenient truth with a threat to go to court

That's what I'd do.

[ejpoeta]

2. well, one positive of the teacher showing this would be that the kids

could learn the difference between fact and unsubstantiated claims and why such things can be dangerous??? perhaps the videos should be viewed first by teachers before showing them to students? As for the people who made it, they are decietful? and fraudulent?

[Drale]

3. Go to the school board

and threaten to go to court. Most school boards have no backbone and will give in.

[Viking12]

4. Heartland is a leading voice in the denial industry -- secretly funded, of course

They host fake 'scientific conferences' and publish nonsense research and bogus assessments.

http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Heartland_Institute

That propaganda does not belong in a science classroom!

[Johonny]

6. there gold in fake science

Always amazing what some of these organization bring in to tell the same lie over and over

[elleng]

5. "Dear Teacher,

I understand you showed a video to XXX Class 'today.' I believe the video challenges the science of global warming and the human contribution to climate change.

I think it is your responsibility promptly to inform your students, including my son, of the facts about these very important issues, and I look forward to hearing that you have done so."



:hi:


edit: add 'promptly'

[steve2470]

8. +1

Only if the teacher refuses to be fair, should you speak of lawsuits etc.

[elleng]

10. Right, no threats at this point.

:thumbsup:

[hlthe2b]

13. While I agree with your measured approach... I am appalled

that this "science" teacher could not distinguish between propaganda of the worst kind and what is settled scientific consensus. I would not want this person teaching science to my child. Sans some major explanation as to why they were mislead in their impression of what the film presents, I would demand my child transfer to another teacher. Sorry, but I have no patience for teachers who teach creationism or other blatant lies--such as anti-climate change nonsense-- in the name of science.

[Paradoxical]

7. I had to discuss creationism in my biology classes.

Both in high school and college.

[markpkessinger]

14. That is simply appalling

I remember very well my own high school biology class (circa 1977), and specifically how, when he introduced Darwin's concepts to the class, the teacher approached issues concerning possible conflict with religious views. This was in a rural, conservative school district in Pennsylvania where many of the students came from deeply religious farming families. I don't remember his exact words, but it was something to the effect of:

"Some of the ideas we will cover in this unit may conflict with c certain things you've been taught by your churches. The purpose of this class is not to debate the validity of religiously and biblically based claims or ideas. This is a science class, and as such we will concern ourselves with matters of science, and limiting ourselves to what can be observed, demonstrated or tested using the principles of the scientific method."

He then gave us a quick reminder of what did, and did not, constitute "scientific method." There was some discussion about it for maybe 10 minutes, then we launched into the material. That was the end of the matter.

I think the way that teacher handled it was right on the money. He was respectful but clear in limiting the scope of the class's exploration, but also managed to make it clear that it was not going to be up for debate. I wish more teachers would do this.

[Paradoxical]

19. I graduated HS in 2008...

Came from a very conservative community. It apparently was school policy to mention other "possible" conclusions when studying evolution. I don't think the teacher enjoyed it.

[KurtNYC]

9. my marine biology teacher let a Creationist speak for 20 mins and then Q&A

She was real clear that she didn't support the theory (?) of creationism, that it wasn't science and that we weren't getting tested on it.

She taught us also that science has always come under attack. And she showed us the modern battle ground.

[YellowRubberDuckie]

11. Whoever came up with Global warming as a concept should never have called it that.

They should have called it Global Climate Change. I'm so fucking sick of hearing "Where's your global warming now?" in the middle of goddamned winter. Idiots can't grab the concept of Global Warming so they bury their heads and act like dumb shits.
Duckie

[Zanzoobar]

21. Long ago...

Like the '70s, it was called global cooling. Then the science got better and they called it global warming. Then the science got better and they called it global climate change. Based on the history of the science there is plenty of reason for skepticism among the larger population when one considers the nature of humanity.

For the authoritative figures to recover there will have to be enough cataclysmic events to prove their position. If the predictions come to pass, it will already be too late.

[Hugabear]

23. Come back in 20 years, and let's see how accurate that term is

The earth IS heating up, on average. Part of global warming means that we have more severe winters, but on average,the mean temperature is rising. The results of global warming are already becoming evident.

[YellowRubberDuckie]

24. I was commenting, not on the term itself, but the idiots who cannot get past it.

[FLyellowdog]

12. Question where in the curriculum guidelines this falls. nt

[arcane1]

15. the free-market economic theories of Milton Friedman

I suppose that says it all. It has no place in the classroom except as a case study.

[usregimechange]

16. Ok, here is the last line of my e-mail to him:

Presenting a video relative to climate change that is contrary to the views of 97% of climatologists isn't something you'd be likely tell the school board about.

[elleng]

17. Good idea.

'You'd be likely to,' or 'You would like to?'

[Shallah Kali]

18. Contact American's United for Separation of Church & State

here: http://www.au.org/take-action/report-a-violation/

[usregimechange]

22. He taught a political not a religious viewpoint, they can't assist here.

[Goblinmonger]

20. As a teacher, I normally encourage running up the chain of command

Talk to the teacher, then the principal, then the superintendent. I still want to encourage that.

But as a teacher in Wisconsin who knows fellow teachers that are getting grief from parents and administration for even answering student questions about the budget bill here, I say screw 'em and bitch to the school board. Make a big stink.

Having gotten that off my chest, I think you are going through the right channel. Give the teacher a chance to make this right and if they don't, move on to the principal. Don't stop until you get some answers and some appropriate remedy.