My daughter's science teacher doesn't believe in climate change.

[Anonymous]

He mentioned this as an offhandedl remark during a casual conversation with some students, he didn't announce it to the class during a lesson but still find it shocking. How would you react if your kid's science teacher didn't believe in climate change?

[Anonymous]

That's appalling. I'd have words with the principal. This person has no business teaching science.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:That's appalling. I'd have words with the principal. This person has no business teaching science.

He'spretry popular as a teacher. My daughter actually finds him very entertaining and says he's very good at explaining things.

[Anonymous]

Did you post about this a few months ago?

[Anonymous]

Science teachers also should not be talking about what they “believe in.” Climate change isn’t like God or Santa, where faith and belief matter. The teacher could say “I don’t think there is enough evidence of climate change to be certain it is happening.” Then you can talk about evidence. Belief has no role in science.

[Anonymous]

Public? If so, the claims about persecution are exaggerated.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Did you post about this a few months ago?

No. she told me this Friday.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Science teachers also should not be talking about what they “believe in.” Climate change isn’t like God or Santa, where faith and belief matter. The teacher could say “I don’t think there is enough evidence of climate change to be certain it is happening.” Then you can talk about evidence. Belief has no role in science.

It's possible he said it along those lines. I'm getting my 13 year old's interpretation of this.

[Anonymous]

You should report him to the Principal, and CC to the Superintendent and Board of Education. State that the amount of evidence on climate change has been overwhelming for many years, and that given the political climate, a teacher who tells his students, even privately, that climate change does not exist, should not be hired by a public school system which professes to teach real science.

Climate change is absolutely undeniable.

The human contribution to climate change has been hotly debated. Most agree that humans have contributed in a major way to our current rapid increase in temperature. There have also been times on earth when temperatures varied abruptly without human interference.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Science teachers also should not be talking about what they “believe in.” Climate change isn’t like God or Santa, where faith and belief matter. The teacher could say “I don’t think there is enough evidence of climate change to be certain it is happening.” Then you can talk about evidence. Belief has no role in science.

It's possible he said it along those lines. I'm getting my 13 year old's interpretation of this.

Wrong again. Climate change is happening, and no one but cranks are denying this. You are mistaking human contributions with actual climate change. The former is still debated, the latter not at all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
You should report him to the Principal, and CC to the Superintendent and Board of Education. State that the amount of evidence on climate change has been overwhelming for many years, and that given the political climate, a teacher who tells his students, even privately, that climate change does not exist, should not be hired by a public school system which professes to teach real science.

Climate change is absolutely undeniable.

The human contribution to climate change has been hotly debated. Most agree that humans have contributed in a major way to our current rapid increase in temperature. There have also been times on earth when temperatures varied abruptly without human interference.

The reason these distinctions matter is that regardless of why our climate is changing, we need to do something about it! There are many solutions. Take the guilt off the table and just implement solutions.

This is very important for people who mistakenly deny climate change because they refuse to accept a share of the blame. Just deal with the increasing warmth, people, without pointing fingers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
You should report him to the Principal, and CC to the Superintendent and Board of Education. State that the amount of evidence on climate change has been overwhelming for many years, and that given the political climate, a teacher who tells his students, even privately, that climate change does not exist, should not be hired by a public school system which professes to teach real science.

Climate change is absolutely undeniable.

The human contribution to climate change has been hotly debated. Most agree that humans have contributed in a major way to our current rapid increase in temperature. There have also been times on earth when temperatures varied abruptly without human interference.

The reason these distinctions matter is that regardless of why our climate is changing, we need to do something about it! There are many solutions. Take the guilt off the table and just implement solutions.

This is very important for people who mistakenly deny climate change because they refuse to accept a share of the blame. Just deal with the increasing warmth, people, without pointing fingers.

I don't think it's that simple. For instance, if the record-breaking levels of carbon in our air are a cause of the change, we need to change the human activities that generate carbon. But if you don't want to change all the money-making activities that generate carbon you can fight about whether carbon is really a cause. So dealing with what's happened involves looking at causes - it's not about guilt, it's about solutions. But people who don't want to slow down their money-making (and/or worry that investigating causes will make them ) try to make this into a conversation about guilt/uncertainty etc. If we just build floodwalls and don't focus on reducing carbon and methane we may never keep up.

[Anonymous]

Virginia, am I right?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
You should report him to the Principal, and CC to the Superintendent and Board of Education. State that the amount of evidence on climate change has been overwhelming for many years, and that given the political climate, a teacher who tells his students, even privately, that climate change does not exist, should not be hired by a public school system which professes to teach real science.

Climate change is absolutely undeniable.

The human contribution to climate change has been hotly debated. Most agree that humans have contributed in a major way to our current rapid increase in temperature. There have also been times on earth when temperatures varied abruptly without human interference.

The reason these distinctions matter is that regardless of why our climate is changing, we need to do something about it! There are many solutions. Take the guilt off the table and just implement solutions.

This is very important for people who mistakenly deny climate change because they refuse to accept a share of the blame. Just deal with the increasing warmth, people, without pointing fingers.

I don't think it's that simple. For instance, if the record-breaking levels of carbon in our air are a cause of the change, we need to change the human activities that generate carbon. But if you don't want to change all the money-making activities that generate carbon you can fight about whether carbon is really a cause. So dealing with what's happened involves looking at causes - it's not about guilt, it's about solutions. But people who don't want to slow down their money-making (and/or worry that investigating causes will make them ) try to make this into a conversation about guilt/uncertainty etc. If we just build floodwalls and don't focus on reducing carbon and methane we may never keep up.

I agree, but we mustn't keep talking about how some people are criminals for still denying human involvement. Just move on with all the solutions. It won't be last time people willfully ignore FACTS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Science teachers also should not be talking about what they “believe in.” Climate change isn’t like God or Santa, where faith and belief matter. The teacher could say “I don’t think there is enough evidence of climate change to be certain it is happening.” Then you can talk about evidence. Belief has no role in science.

THIS.

(And for the record, such a statement would still be idiotic because there's definitely enough evidence to prove that the climate IS changing. But I would say an actual valid statement would be "I haven't seen convincing evidence that points to human action or inaction being the cause OR the cure for such change.")