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posted by LaminatorX on Friday May 16 2014, @03:49AM   Printer-friendly
from the Head-in-the-Tar-Sands dept.

Time Magazine reports that Wyoming, the nation's top coal-producing state, has become the first state to reject new K-12 science standards proposed by national education groups mainly because of global warming components. The Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) are a set of science standards developed by leading scientists and science educators from 26 states and built on a framework developed by the National Academy of Sciences. The Wyoming science standards revision committee made up entirely of Wyoming educators unanimously recommended adoption of these standards to the state Board of Education not once but twice and twelve states have already adopted the standards since they were released in April 2013. But opponents argue the standards incorrectly assert that man-made emissions are the main cause of global warming and shouldn't be taught in a state that ranks first among all states in coal production, fifth in natural gas production and eighth in crude oil production deriving much of its school funding from the energy industry. Amy Edmonds, of the Wyoming Liberty Group, says teaching "one view of what is not settled science about global warming" is just one of a number of problems with the standards. "I think Wyoming can do far better." Wyoming Governor Matt Mead has called federal efforts to curtail greenhouse emissions a "war on coal" and has said that he's skeptical about man-made climate change.

Supporters of the NGSS say science standards for Wyoming schools haven't been updated since 2003 and are six years overdue. "If you want the best science education for your children and grandchildren and you don't want any group to speak for you, then make yourselves heard loud and clear," says Cate Cabot. "Otherwise you will watch the best interests of Wyoming students get washed away in the hysteria of a small anti-science minority driven by a national right wing group "and political manipulation."

 
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  • (Score: 2, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Friday May 16 2014, @06:21AM

    by Anonymous Coward on Friday May 16 2014, @06:21AM (#44114)

    they're honest and saying "Don't teach that; it makes our bosses look bad" instead of claiming it's not true.

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  • (Score: 3, Insightful) by SpockLogic on Friday May 16 2014, @11:47AM

    by SpockLogic (2762) on Friday May 16 2014, @11:47AM (#44162)

    FOLLOW THE MONEY. Its not a "war on coal", its a threat to the politicians funding. Money = re-election. Anything that threatens that must be eliminated.

    --
    Overreacting is one thing, sticking your head up your ass hoping the problem goes away is another - edIII
    • (Score: 2) by tathra on Friday May 16 2014, @07:51PM

      by tathra (3367) on Friday May 16 2014, @07:51PM (#44389)

      which is exactly why we need public campaign financing. this is a nation-wide problem, some places are just worse than others.

  • (Score: 2) by tangomargarine on Friday May 16 2014, @03:22PM

    by tangomargarine (667) on Friday May 16 2014, @03:22PM (#44224)

    Sounds like a good excuse for a lesson on the meaning of cognitive dissonance, pragmatism, and ecological responsibility.

    "Because it makes the guys in charge look bad" hardly qualifies as a reason not to teach it from where I'm standing. But of course those in power don't actually WANT educated peons because then they'll start asking pesky questions.

    --
    "Is that really true?" "I just spent the last hour telling you to think for yourself! Didn't you hear anything I said?"