Alliance for Climate Education

Last Wednesday I got a message from a school administrator on the east coast concerning the Alliance on Climate Education (ACE). ACE had proposed to do a presentation for their students and the administrator, being responsible, checked their web site and found that they had us listed as a school that had hosted them before. She was interested in finding out how I felt about the ACE presentation before she committed to them. Below is the text of my email to her…

We had the Alliance on Climate Education present in the fall. Our science staff is split on their feelings. Some of my teachers feel it was an excellent presentation and would take their classes again. Several others feel (like I do) that the presentation was very light on science and very heavy on propaganda. While I would not oppose them returning, I would not be bringing my classes to see the presentation.

Specifically, I was disturbed by the speakers request that our students get their cell phones out and send a text. I do not recall the reason he gave, but it was clear he was attempting to generate a "call list" that could be accessed later. I believe that he intended, later, to contact everyone on the list and ask them to contact government officials, industry, the media .....in order to influence their actions. I am very non-political, and this tactic bothers me to no end--they are children. After the first period presentation I warned two other classes I was bringing not to send the text when asked, and decided not to bring my Advanced Placement students, feeling it would be a waste of their time.

On the other hand our students enjoyed the presentation--it was well done and very professional. It might be more appropriate for a "Social Justice" class than a "science class." I hope this helps. If you have any other questions feel free to reply.


She got back to me about 30 minutes later with this reply . . . .

Thank you so much for taking the time to respond to my inquiry. I agree with your feelings about putting students in a situation where they might be used by an organization. This information is very helpful to us and I will share it with our teachers.
Best regards,

Tens of thousands of children, poised to become part of the “solution” to the environmental crisis when contacted to do so is a powerful tool for those who want to influence the debate. I have no feelings one way or the other whether they allow ACE to present at their school. I do though have feelings about the insanity surrounding the current debate on global warming, and the immoral tactics employed by both sides. The insanity is so deep-seated that anyone who even suggests that there is a debate will be angrily denounced by both sides as a dangerous extremist, each side insisting that the evidence is overwhelming for their point of view. The ACE presentation our students were exposed to treated the “fact” of global warming as so undeniable that someone would have to be a very bad person, stupid, or possibly a Republican to deny it. I have seen presentations by the other side as well, and they are equally loathsome.
How do I feel? I don’t know. The debate has been so corrupted by lying and exaggeration on both sides that even someone like me, who was trained in science, doesn’t know who to believe. Falsifying data and intentionally instilling panic in the populace can’t be excused because you had some higher purpose. The politicians and scientists involved in this circus have no one to blame but themselves. To paraphrase; the pursuit of money is the root of all evil, and, no doubt, whoever is successful will make a fortune. And in either case, that fortune will come out of your pocket and mine.