Posted on 05/22/2007 6:38:15 AM PDT by Nextrush
This generation is one that thrives on media publicity, and right now global warming is in the spotlight. From melting icecaps to rising temperatures and sea levels, global warming seems to be the hot topic.
With the help of Al Gore's Academy Award-winning film, "An Inconvenient Truth," the issue of global warming has been projected from television screens worldwide, including those at Central York High School.
Both Gregory Wimmer and Eric Webb, teachers of global studies and environmental sciences at Central, have used Gore's film as a teaching tool.
"In a social studies classroom, "An Inconvenient Truth" allows for an open debate on environmental issues," Wimmer said. Discussions of the film led two of Wimmer's global studies classes to create projects to spread awareness of the effects of global warming and climate change.
However, with the increased publicity in high school classrooms, "An Inconvenient Truth" has caused tension on a political and educational scale. Federal Way School District in Washington banned Gore's film from schools for its "biased" material.
Frosty Hardison, parent of seven, called Al Gore a "propagandist" and protested the showing of the film in his children's classrooms. The district removed the ban with a new policy intact: teachers showing the film must request administrative approval and provide the opposing view in their lesson.
Webb said. "Obviously Gore has an agenda; he's a politician. He used the science data to say what he wanted it to say. But that's why this film got the press it did."
"Everything in the media that is produced by humans is biased," said Jay Butterfield, principal of Central York High School.
Butterfield said he supports teachers having open discourse about the issue. While he felt the film is "definitely" beneficial to high school students, he said, "The problem with showing an entire film is that it eats up valuable instruction time. Its better to find key moments to discuss the topic."
While the video provokes some skepticism, the message on global warming rings loud and clear. "There is a reason why its called "An Inconvenient Truth." said Webb. "If what Gore says is true....you feel very uncomfortable by the end of the film."
Webb hopes that Gore's documentary will make students think about how their lives and lifestyles impact the planet. He said "We all need to be better stewards of the planet. Maybe this movie will help make students more aware of that."
Butterfield commented, "Young people can make changes that affect the world in a positive way.'
However, Webb noted that while the film is making students more aware of the causes and effects of global warming, there is still the same number of cars in the school parking lot each morning.
"We are a nation that wants things to be convenient for us," said Webb. "(Carpooling) is simply inconvenient."
While Webb believes that fuel prices will have a greater impact on government policy than Gore's film, he remains confident. "If the general public demands change in environmental policy, it will happen," he said.
Butterfield notes that people have endured decades of crises such as whales washing on shore and rainforests depleting without significant change in action to stop global warming. Whether or not "An Inconvenient Truth" will be the neccessary motivation this generation needs to make a change, he said. "I don't know if it's enough."
The media industry promotes ideas around the globe. Rachel Carson fueled the Environmental Movement of the 60's and 70's. The publicity of her idea created the Environmental Protection Agency, Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act and the Endangered Species Act.
Webb pointed out that the media has changed environmental policies before. "Rachel Carson's 1962 book, "Silent Spring," started the ball rolling in making the public aware of the problem of pesticide use in America. Maybe this movie could have the same impact."
I understand this school linked to a page on its website and had a big banner in the cafeteria. The big banner showed people looking like refugees to illustrate what "climate change" would mean.
And from what I know, some students got the message of fear loud and clear. The left scares them today with global warming like they did with nuclear war in th 1960's.
I just don't remember all those "open discussions" in high schools when "The Silent Scream" came out in the 1980's, do you?
The sad thing is when these kids are older and see how the Wise Environmentalist Al Gore is full of sh*t it will be hard to convince them that some environmental measures are truly good for...the environment.
It’s even being shown in “Gym Class”, that’s how far the libs will go to shove their crap down our children’s throats. Make sure that “No child gets left behind”..........
Do you have a link?
Sorry, no link for this high school newspaper.
Its in print but not online.
Maybe they should re-title Al’s movie “An Inconvenient Graduation Requirement”
Let's just ignore that inconvenient 'if' and present the whole thing as fact.
Goebbles Ghost!
Ok, just checking. Copyright rules and all that.
Webb pointed out that the media has changed environmental policies before. "Rachel Carson's 1962 book, "Silent Spring," started the ball rolling in making the public aware of the problem of pesticide use in America. Maybe this movie could have the same impact."
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- All based on a lie. A lie that has killed more than 25 million due to a resurgance of mosquito born malaria.
But hey! We all feel better.
How many more will global warming and Algore kill?
With lies.
Should read Honorary Academy Award. Just like an Honorary Doctorate, it was not earned it was bestowed for political reasons.
Gore’s movie will be about as relevant as “duck and cover” in the future.
I think we should definitely ban books, speakers, films, magazines, and viewpoints we don’t like from schools.
Oh wait, that’s what liberals do.
You’re ready for Michael Crichton to speak about global warming as a “false religion” in public schools?
What about scientists who don’t follow the “climate change” mantra? Are they allowed to be heard above all the freight train noise coming from the Gore film?
Well.....
A documentary is supposed to be based on fact, not fantasy.
I thought that religion was banned from schools. Isn’t this a violation of “the separation of church and state”? If this keeps up, our kids will be praying to ALGORE before long.
It’s impossible to present both sides of the case when the only classroom material you have to work with is Gore’s extremist bias and lies, and when more than 95% of the teachers who show it believe in gorebal warming themselves.
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