Climate change deniers want time in science class
Barb Shelly
AP Photo
Once again, an attempt is being made to inject politics into Kansas science lessons. House Bill 2306 would “encourage” science teachers to teach controversial topics in “an objective manner in which both the strengths and weaknesses of such scientific theory or hypothesis are covered.”
The bill cites only one controversy: climate science.
I’m sure Kansas science teachers have no problem noting that climate science is politically controversial. But the strength of the theory that human activities are wreaking havoc on the planet is increasing by the day, whereas doubters have been unable to mount a plausible argument that mainstream climate science is false. Rather, they have proposed an alternate theory and proclaimed it on equal footing with meticulously drawn models showing evidence of man-made climate change.
House Bill 2306, which is being considered by the House education committee, attempts to inject a political controversy into science classes, under the guise of “assisting student in developing critical thinking skills to evaluate scientific theories or hypotheses,” as the bill states.
Any good science teacher already is encouraging critical thinking and healthy skepticism. Promoting denial is another matter.
Previous science controversies in Kansas have originated with the elected state Board of Education. This one began in the Legislature. Fortunately, the board, which is working on science standards, gets to call the shots.
Kent Mueller
3 months agoClimate change? I thought it was Global Warming. But..but..but…that was until the globe wasn’t warming. Nowww, it a-changing. Yeah, that’s it. It’s changing.
Maybe people should be careful where they get their facts. Like Obama’s State of the Union address last week for example.
He said “the fact is, the 12 hottest years on record have all come in the last 15.” Only one problem. NASA’s James Hansen says “Mean Global Temperature has been flat for the last decade.”.
You can believe what you want, but please don’t say that “doubters”, as you call them, can’t articulate a more than adequate response. They can, and they do. You just choose to not listen.
Mark Hastert
2 months, 4 weeks ago“Climate change? I thought it was Global Warming. But..but..but…”
….There, there… it’s OK, I understand .. science is hard…just go back to sleep now….
Kent Mueller
2 months, 4 weeks agoMark always comes in with a meaningless, arrogant, looking down his nose but ultimately really stupid comment.
In the 70’s Time Magazine’s cover proclaimed “How to survive the coming Ice Age”. Time was kind enough to provide us with “51 things you can do to make a difference”. Well, scratch that. Then the earth was mercilessly warming. Well, scratch that. Now the climate is “changing”. What a revolution. The climate has continually changed for as far back as we can tell. Not even a single evil corporation spewing pollution led to that 40 day flood.
George Hunsucker
Northland
2 months, 4 weeks agoThat’s because he is a lib Kent… they are all knowing and we are the unclean….
JR Beillenhouser
2 months, 4 weeks agoThanks for the laugh Barb. It is obvious you are just as ignorant as Lewis.
JR Beillenhouser
2 months, 4 weeks agoReality Barb, is the exact opposite of what you state.
Remember the “science is settled” though not one climate model proposed by the experts has been correct, ever, as in ever.
So your complaint is that skepticism is going to be taught in science class instead of going along with a theory that to this point has absolutely no verification. So where is the political controversy in that. Oh, it is a political controversy because it doesn’t just flat out follow your views. How open minded. You know as much about science as you do about journalism, which is nothing.
Please explain how providing a balanced view is promoting denial?
Oh and Barb, did you know that not one climate model proposed by the experts has been correct, ever, as in ever. Just thought I’d remind you. And who is politically motivated again?
Matt Henry
2 months, 4 weeks agoI’ve said it before and I will say it again; the day that I knew the Global Warming controversy was a joke (or at the very least very much up in the air) was the day I heard Al Gore call it “settled science.” That has only been reinforced by people like Barb calling anyone who disagrees with the dire conclusions “deniers.”
Nobody who must demagogue the other side with such hysterical mouth-frothing is as sure as they claim to be. And try as they might, they can’t deny the political component. Isn’t it awesome that the solutions to this world crisis is a “progressive” smilie-type-dream?
John Schmidt
2 months, 4 weeks agoIt find it shocking that some of you actually believe that Earth is 6,000 years old, yet you don’t believe in climate change…