A California lawmaker is pushing a bill to require global warming be included in all science courses throughout the state’s public schools. What business does the state legislature have of deciding what is taught in a science class? Shouldn’t science teachers and local school officials makes these sort of decisions?
A Silicon Valley lawmaker is gaining momentum with a bill that would require “climate change” to be among the science topics that all California public school students are taught.
The measure, by state Sen. Joe Simitian, D-Palo Alto, also would mandate that future science textbooks approved for California public schools include climate change.
“You can’t have a science curriculum that is relevant and current if it doesn’t deal with the science behind climate change,” Simitian said. “This is a phenomenon of global importance and our kids ought to understand the science behind that phenomenon.”
The state Senate approved the bill, SB 908, Jan. 30 by a 26-13 vote. It heads now to the state Assembly. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has taken numerous actions to reduce global warming, but he has yet to weigh in on Simitian’s bill. Other Republicans in the Capitol, however, are not happy about the proposal.
Some say the science on global warming isn’t clear, while others worry the bill would inject environmental propaganda into classrooms.
“I find it disturbing that this mandate to teach this theory is not accompanied by a requirement that the discussion be science-based and include a critical analysis of all sides of the subject,” said Sen. Tom McClintock, R-Thousand Oaks, during the Senate debate.
This seems like an intrusion from a bunch of people who don’t know for sure what they’re talking about, but want to feel like they’re doing something. But if the legislature wants to encourage science education, let them send some more money to school districts to hire new science teachers. Or fund the creation of a new state university that focuses on scientific research.
State legislators have no business writing science curriculum, that’s for certain.
February 18th, 2008 at 12:22 pm
You know, I’d like to see a separation of science and state. In all honesty, the government has no business in science at all.
February 18th, 2008 at 7:18 pm
Oh God. You mean like elected state legislators are proposing how and what to fund in public schools. Golly gee. I think Austin that we need a law that promotes the separation of government from water and environmental control. Its time to end the tyranny of public officials actually making decisions that control what is done in the public sphere.
July 31st, 2008 at 9:40 pm
Global Warming, scriptures from the book of Al Gore. I think it belongs to a Theology Class than a Science class, since its all based on belief and the magical powers of Al Gore.
have you guys heard this one: “Al Gore puts the HIPO in Hipocrite”
I love that one.
Now a days, they call it “Climate Change” to give that Science sounding feel in it. Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter thats my Climate Change