1. Wash. school board restricts Gore's global-warming film

Comment #61568 by hoemaco on August 5, 2007 at 7:54 pm

Some interesting comments about Gore's recent additions on Creation:

http://www.randi.org/jr/2007-04/042707chop.html#i7

2. Wash. school board restricts Gore's global-warming film

Comment #60460 by hoemaco on August 2, 2007 at 2:12 am

I partly agree with DrShell - the fact that it has the name of a politician doesn't help - but I also believe it'd suffered the same effect were it not so.
I am ashamed to admit I have not seen the movie, however, I do have my reservations. Though I don't know too much about Al Gore, I can't sincerely believe someone who has been US vicepresident - as far as I remember, US has always opposed Kioto etc. Where were his ideas when he was in office? I'd also not be surprised to find that he is polluting the environment more than a dozen families together (cars, plane trips, maybe owned companies, etc). After all, he's not a poor man, is he?

Actually, in Hungary we do not allow politicians into our schools (except for some ceremonies, but they can not talk about party politics).

I'd be happier to see a film signed by say MIT/Berkeley/Harvard or world meteorological organisation etcetera. And to see such a movie in which scientists' views differ at least a little bit. As far as I've heard about it, there is no 100% consensus on causes and effects of global warming. Some scientists showed me graphs which stated that the mean temperature has been increasing since the last ice age and that it should rise even more according to ice age studies, and it was before they calculated with man-caused warming. Other scientists warned of global cooling (though caused by the same effects as warming). Of course, I must agree with captain underpants that the slightest suspicion in this matter should be enough to deal with this.

Btw the connection is plainly visible - kids learnin school there is no thing such as global warming, and then they go and vote on someone who can only say 'in god I trust' and make a more ridiculous face than any circus chimp, and then this man (these men) further strenghten the said education. Circulus vitiosus.

3. Teach sex and evolution or close, Quebec evangelical schools told

Comment #60445 by hoemaco on August 2, 2007 at 1:13 am

Hello,

I think that being from central-east Europe (Hungary), I have somewhat different views on this. There we don't have so much liberalism and individualism than US or Canada (though still more than East Asia). Therefore, it does not strike me as a bad act that the government tries to regulate schools - on the contrary, it strikes me deep that they actually allow private schools to work without state control, and that home education is possible (as it said "with the exception of home-schooled children" - I'm really uneducated about american systems). While there exist a few private schools in Hungary, and they are allowed their own curriculum (but those are strictly scientific, and only differ in teaching methods), those kids going there also have to complete the same requirements as everybody else at age of 18 (graduation exam). Furthermore, every child MUST attend a school from age 7 to 18.

I believe, that as long as the ministry of education is not controlled by morons, this system is good, no, even better than the american/canadian one. Most great scientists of the 20th century have come from Europe, where they received an education which made them think creatively.

It is a problem, though, that there actually are morons in our ministry, but at least they are far from being religious fanatics. And they also stopped the scientologists from gaining foothold in education.

About parents choosing their kids education: clearly you do not suggest that most (all) parents are "clever" enough to choose such an education for their kids that will serve them best in the future (and which makes them think rationally), or that they are capable of raising them in such a manner. If it were true, this forum would not exist. The big problem imho is actually that parents who have been raised without teaching them to think rationally and sceptically, and without teaching them anything on how to raise children, will have similarly ignorant children. It's not s strict rule, fortunately, as seen by personal examples seen above, but still seems to apply to too many people. I can see the results when I go to a secondary school and find that a 15 years old kid tries to shake the hand of the teacher saying 'how are ya man?'. And parents (both) working day and night (as also mentioned) does not help this.

So I say that it's still better to have the state control the curriculum, as a few man there are easier to convince, and though they're not the brightest folks, still they are better educated than many parents and they do feel in most countries that the nation's interest demands for scientific education.

Btw, it's good to hear that kids have 'sex education' in Canada / can someone explain to me what that includes? That's something I think Europe also still lacks in, though at least there are some lectures about most important things and dangers. (And we don't teach them not to have sex before marriage).

I have a feeling that if US and Canada succumb to this fanatism (which many people are afraid it will), then it'll be felt in their economy - US is already desperately trying to have more kids study science and engineering (I have personal experiences about this), though it's been a problem ever since - but it can become worse. Europe or rather Asia (China in mind) will take great advantage in tech development. (Though Islamic countries, from middle east to malaysia and indonesia also have some bad tendencies in education).