School board bans materials that deny AGW climate change

Everyone knows that the best scientists are found teaching science in high school, right?  And school board members--who set policy for schools--logically would know even more about science than the teachers.  So it makes perfect sense that school board members would be the people best qualified to decide crucial issues like, oh, whether the earth's climate is changing, and if so, what might be causing it.

And of course it makes sense that such a sophisticated, highly trained group of scientists--the board--would want to be sure their young highschool students didn't see any information that might cast doubt on the AGW theory.  Cuz, you know, we wouldn't want 'em to be confused by...um...information that might make 'em doubt The Narrative, eh?

Portland school board bans climate change-denying materials

Environmental groups say science is clear, so textbooks should be, too

The Portland Public Schools board unanimously approved a resolution aimed at eliminating doubt of climate change and its causes in schools.

“It is unacceptable [to whom?] that we have textbooks in our schools that spread doubt about the human causes and urgency of the crisis,” said Lincoln High School student Gaby Lemieux in board testimony. “Climate education is the minimum requirement for my generation to be successful in our changing world.”

The resolution passed Tuesday evening calls for the school district to get rid of textbooks or other materials that cast doubt on whether climate change is occurring and that the activity of human beings is responsible. The resolution also directs the superintendent and staff to develop an implementation plan for “curriculum and educational opportunities that address climate change and climate justice in all Portland public schools.”

Bill Bigelow, a former PPS teacher and current curriculum editor of Rethinking Schools, a magazine devoted to education issues, said “A lot of the text materials are thick with the language of doubt, and obviously the science says otherwise,” Bigelow says, accusing the publishing industry to bowing to pressure from fossil fuels companies. “We don’t want kids in Portland learning material courtesy of the fossil fuel industry.”

Bigelow said the school system's science textbooks are littered with words like 'might', 'may' and 'could' when talking about climate change.  “ ‘Carbon dioxide emissions from motor vehicles, power plants and other sources may contribute to global warming,’ ” he quotes a science text as saying. “This is a section that could be written by the Exxon public relations group and it’s being taught in Portland schools.”

Bigelow is also the co-author of a textbook on environmental education, "A People’s Curriculum for the Earth." Asked if this resolution will cause the district to buy new textbooks, such as his, Bigelow said Rethinking Schools is a nonprofit, not a money-maker.  [Well there ya go--the leftist's all-purpose free pass:  "I'm not trying to make a profit."]

“What we’re asking for is not 'Buy new stuff,'” he said. “What we’re looking for is a whole different model of curriculum development and distribution.”

Got a great idea:  Take away ALL fossil fuels and electricity from Bigelow and every other goofy bastard on that school board.  Come back in a couple of years.  Re-interview.  See if he and they have changed their views at all.  If not, go away for two more years.  Repeat as needed.