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I forget the name of the School or School District that decided it needed another view point before they could show Al Gores movie. Here is the response I received from the school board.
Thank you for taking the time to share your concerns. I write this intending to express my own views and not the views of other board members. I will set forth the salient points below on what we did and why we did it. I will not be replying to your replies. 1. We did not ban or censor the movie and have no intent to do so. Teachers can use it as they see fit if they follow policy on movies and controversial issues. All we requested is that the policies be followed. 2. We are not banning the teaching of global warming. 3. The debate on global warming is beneficial to society and limiting the debate to only one side’s view of the established facts would not be good for anyone even if they believe the debate is over. 4. Our policies are designed to make sure that the door is open for more debate on issues, not less. 5. The decision was made on existing policy. It was not based on anyone’s direct belief regarding politics, science, religion, or when the earth was formed. 6. Policy 2331 and 2331P (see below) is intended to prevent one-sided views of controversial issues. 7. The action was based upon the fact that a teacher intended to show the movie without presenting an opposing view, which was in violation of existing policy. There was also an offer last week by the proponents of the movie to give 50,000 copies to teachers across the country to use as curriculum, which would have increased the chance that the movie would be used. There was more than one complaint/concern expressed about this issue based upon that alone. 8. The policy should be equally enforced regardless of what side of the spectrum any controversial issue falls upon. This protects the integrity of the education process. I would have made the same decision if the movie was about the Iraq war or some other issue and was narrated by George W. Bush or other partisan, and even if the proponents felt the debate was over on the topic they were presenting. 9. The partisan aspect of any issue makes it controversial per se in my opinion. Our schools will not be used as a farm team for any political party and we will protect against even the appearance of political indoctrination. 10. Science and politics are merged on this issue. The political aspect of this is what makes it the most controversial, especially when a political partisan makes the presentation. With that in mind, there are many other ways to teach global warming instead of using a feature film by a political partisan (see links below from NOAA and NASA that have have references to skeptics), but despite that belief on my part, I still did not vote to "ban" the movie even though I had the power to do so. I also had the power to compel other sources be used instead of the movie and did not do that either. 11. On the issue of how final the debate is, I wonder if Galileo or other out of the box thinkers would have ever made their discoveries had they not questioned what was perceived to be the determined "facts" of the day by those in power. I understand there was a religious component to quashing debate during their times, but does it matter what the source is that quashes debate when some think the debate is over? Those who believe science is infallible need a history lesson. Research what was thought to be scientific fact 50 or 100 years ago and you will truly understand why I believe in debate, even about science and even when some think the debate is over. 12. Some of you have made strained analogies to creationism and other ridiculous examples of opposing views. First, creationism raises constitutional issues that global warming does not. As to ridiculous examples, I am confident that the marketplace of ideas will quickly dismiss those examples. In sum, simply asking for duly adopted policy to be followed by making sure opposing views are presented when a political partisan presents a contested political/scientific issue to impressionable youth is not too much to ask for in a free society. You are entitled to disagree and that is what makes this country great.
Thank you.
Dave Larson
"Creationism raises constitutional issues that global warming does not" That statement in itself raises a red flag and IMHO makes this a Global Warming VS Creationism issue.
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