Teachers Take on Climate Change Propaganda
As conversations about climate change are becoming more widespread, it seems that it’s being discussed everywhere besides in our classrooms. According to a recent study, only 4% of college textbooks are dedicated to climate change and at a high school level, it’s even lower. The majority of high school science teachers lack a background in earth science, the basis of education regarding climate change. Teachers are ill equipped to educate their students on the phenomenon that is influencing the lives of future generations.
Climate denial groups like Heartland Institute are taking advantage of this educational disparity by spreading their propaganda to teachers all across the country. Their book, “Why Scientists Disagree About Global Warming”, is intended to lead teachers to debate the existence of global warming, and it’s working. As a result, 31% of teachers told their students that the cause of climate change is still arguable.
Alexander Moore, from the Paleontological Research Institution has aimed to fight back against the Heartland Institute with the publication on her book, “The Teacher-Friendly Guide to Climate Change”, and has made it a priority to raise funds for distribution. Through crowdfunding, Moore has raised over $74,000. Her goal is to send a copy to every high school science teacher in the country. The book is not only a resource on educating teachers about climate change, but also gives them the tools to properly discuss and answer complex questions from students.
For those who would like to learn more about Moore’s campaign, click here and digital copies are also free to download.
via Treehugger