So much for those that felt that the movie should be shown in schools. It really shouldn't be surprising that someone would find a reason to disagree.
Full article from Seattlepi.comThis week in Federal Way schools, it got a lot more inconvenient to show one of the top-grossing documentaries in U.S. history, the global-warming alert "An Inconvenient Truth."
After a parent who supports the teaching of creationism and opposes sex education complained about the film, the Federal Way School Board on Tuesday placed what it labeled a moratorium on showing the film. The movie consists largely of a computer presentation by former Vice President Al Gore recounting scientists' findings.
"Condoms don't belong in school, and neither does Al Gore. He's not a schoolteacher," said Frosty Hardison, a parent of seven who also said that he believes the Earth is 14,000 years old. "The information that's being presented is a very cockeyed view of what the truth is. ... The Bible says that in the end times everything will burn up, but that perspective isn't in the DVD."
Hardison's e-mail to the School Board prompted board member David Larson to propose the moratorium Tuesday night.
"Somebody could say you're killing free speech, and my retort to them would be we're encouraging free speech," said Larson, a lawyer. "The beauty of our society is we allow debate."
School Board members adopted a three-point policy that says teachers who want to show the movie must ensure that a "credible, legitimate opposing view will be presented," that they must get the OK of the principal and the superintendent, and that any teachers who have shown the film must now present an "opposing view."
The requirement to represent another side follows district policy to represent both sides of a controversial issue, board President Ed Barney said.
"What is purported in this movie is, 'This is what is happening. Period. That is fact,' " Barney said.
Students should hear the perspective of global-warming skeptics and then make up their minds, he said. After they do, "if they think driving around in cars is going to kill us all, that's fine, that's their choice."
That's funny, I didn't need anyone to show me an opposing viewpoint to form my opinion that many people involved in organized religion are paranoid, narrow-minded, judgemental hypocrites. I came away with that impression just from my personal experience with them.
These kids can make that same disctinction from watching the movie. If it sounds like crap to them, they simply won't accept it. On the other hand, they're used to being force-fed turning water into wine and walking on water, so perhaps I'm giving them too much credit. Not that I'm blaming them for not being allowed to think for themselves, of course.
I'd love to know if this same concept of equal time being preached here by Frosty is applied to teaching evolution? I have a feeling that Adam and Eve get a lot more face time there than Darwin.
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