Should "An Inconvenient Truth" be shown in classrooms?

[Jack]

I think its important that we seperate fact from opinion

I think that was CoffeeSaints' point when he said he used it to encourage critical thinking. Kids will be facing a ton of propaganda in their lives. Where better than school to help them develop their own bullshit detectors?

[CoffeeSaint]

Quote by: Rinoa Personally I think basing grade level strictly on age is a little ridiculous. If children were set to higher standards for moving forward, and were able to move themselves forward in the curriculum I think that they would have more motivation. For instance, when I was in fourth grade we were given the assignments for the next math level as soon as we could show that we had mastered the previous one, nevermind where anyone else in the class was. After a few months we were spread across the range, there were very few children in the lower levels, and they were getting help specific to their needs instead of being carried along with the midclass range into subjects that they had no hope of understanding. Meanwhile the upper levels were able to help each other out with their math, and help the students that weren't as far into the curriculum as themselves. It really worked better for everyone, and they actually managed to get all the children up to what was considered to be grade level profficiency for fifth grade. CoffeeSaint, what do you think of that sort of teaching?

I think it sounds outstanding. I don't think it will happen in the higher grades. Why not depends on how bitter I'm feeling at the moment.

Honestly, I have always been in favor of allowing students to control their own education, even to the point of allowing them to drop out if they so desire (after passing a minimum proficiency standard, that is) provided that they have opportunities to return if that is their wont. But I think we need to radically alter our vision of school to accomplish this properly, as today's administrators, students, teachers, and parents are generally not prepared to have the entire school turn to independent study. The first thing we need to do is agree on what exactly is the purpose of schooling: if it is to beat students into submission in order to make them more docile and productive workers, then allowing everyone to go at his or her own pace is obviously not the way to go; that sort of thing really snarls up the assembly line.

But I don't know. Maybe this would be a better way for me to teach. I'm afraid that right now, with three weeks left in the school year and 80 students who have proven themselves effectively incapable of reading a novel and thinking about its contents, is not the best time for me to be thinking of ideal pedagogy.

[Rinoa]

No, right now wouldn't be a good time to implement it but a project of that size could take all summer to develop.

My science in Junior year actually had it setup so that we could choose our grades. We had to do so many C level assignments to get a C then we could move up and do a certain amount of B level assignments to get a B, etc. Now, I know that the current grading system still allows children to choose their grade, but this forced it to be a conscious effort, instead of just a ton of assignments.

For the novel I'd assign the assignments by chapter, and let the kids read through them as quickly as they wished, forming discussion groups for sets of chapters so that you could focus on the group making the slowest progress. Though you'd need a rather large class size for this.

[CoffeeSaint]

Quote by: Rinoa No, right now wouldn't be a good time to implement it but a project of that size could take all summer to develop.

True. But of all the things I plan to do with my summer, "Spend all of it planning next year's curriculum" is right at the bottom of the list. I like my job and all, but it isn't my life.:)

Quote by: Rinoa My science in Junior year actually had it setup so that we could choose our grades. We had to do so many C level assignments to get a C then we could move up and do a certain amount of B level assignments to get a B, etc. Now, I know that the current grading system still allows children to choose their grade, but this forced it to be a conscious effort, instead of just a ton of assignments.

This is an interesting system; I honestly don't know if it would work here. My student population is very unmotivated, particularly when it comes to higher level thinking skills; I tend to believe that many of them, when given the freedom to choose what to do, wouldn't do anything. But I think I will try something like this next year, at least for one term.

Quote by: Rinoa For the novel I'd assign the assignments by chapter, and let the kids read through them as quickly as they wished, forming discussion groups for sets of chapters so that you could focus on the group making the slowest progress. Though you'd need a rather large class size for this.

No, the problem is that the group making the slowest progress would be the four or five kids in each class who aren't passing, don't want to pass, and have very little interest in learning anything at all. These kids are almost always the problem with this sort of cooperative learning groups; in a student population that has more basic interest in education than this one, it can be handled. Perhaps it can be handled here, too, but I am, shall we say, underconfident.

I appreciate the ideas, though. I'll definitely be thinking about ways to implement this.

[Rinoa]

Quote by: CoffeeSaint True. But of all the things I plan to do with my summer, "Spend all of it planning next year's curriculum" is right at the bottom of the list. I like my job and all, but it isn't my life.:)

lol, understandable...if I had a break like that I wouldn't spend my time figuring out better ways to pick up the phone...

This is an interesting system; I honestly don't know if it would work here. My student population is very unmotivated, particularly when it comes to higher level thinking skills; I tend to believe that many of them, when given the freedom to choose what to do, wouldn't do anything. But I think I will try something like this next year, at least for one term.

I don't remember anybody failing that class...Adams was a favorite teacher because of his system. What area of the country are you teaching in?

No, the problem is that the group making the slowest progress would be the four or five kids in each class who aren't passing, don't want to pass, and have very little interest in learning anything at all. These kids are almost always the problem with this sort of cooperative learning groups; in a student population that has more basic interest in education than this one, it can be handled. Perhaps it can be handled here, too, but I am, shall we say, underconfident.

What I like about this way of doing it is that it allows those that will take care of their own grade to take care of it I always hate being put in the group with the kids that don't give a shit...It makes it hard on the ones that do. Also this forces the disinterested to stand out, an aspect that they usually don't like. But you age group does make it more difficult, were I to be a teacher I'd probably choose to work with fourth graders, I feel that at that age it's easier to do good.

I appreciate the ideas, though. I'll definitely be thinking about ways to implement this.

Of course, let me know if there's anything I can do to help!

[yourwrong]

CoffeeSaint even if some students do not activally participate in discussions I believe it would have more postive value then endless facts. I think it would be better to have several extremely intellegent kids rather then a large amount of poorly educated students. One reason why we are so behind Japan and China because we lower the bar to make sure everyone passes while most countrys make an education a privalege if you do not participate then you can just fail. I understand you really can't do anything about it as if you made your class purely critical thinking you must likely would get fired. As my debate teacher was. But still I would encourage you to keep some class discussions in your curiculum. For facts and ideas are useless if you have no way of processing the information. All todays education does is help produce a uniformity work force destined for unskilled labor while China and Japan hold higher positions. I hope you don't feel as I'm am attacking you as you sound like a good teacher dedicated to his work.

[brien]

I don't see any problem with showing this movie to HS students. I believe the more discussion of the movie there is, the more its "truths" and assumptions can shine the light of relevance upon the issue of climate change. The only problem I can anticipate is if teachers penalize students for not being in agreement with their own personal beliefs.

[Bishop of Crunk]

Quote by: Captain Cardio Should "An Inconvenient Truth" be shown in classrooms? What about "The Great Global Warming Swindle", or other such films that say global warming isn't happening?

I think that both should be shown just to show both sides of the arguement.

[Baarst]

If I had to make a definite decision on the topic I would say no. It appears to me as Gore is politically grandstanding, he couldn't get the American presidency through the traditional route so he has gone out to show himself as a world loving, caring humanitarian. My local paper proclaimed Al Gore's home uses as much energy in a month as an average U.S. citizen's house uses in a year, if he truly believed in climate change wouldn't he do something to correct this? He's just another lying politician who can't be trusted.

[Rinoa]

Quote by: Baarst If I had to make a definite decision on the topic I would say no. It appears to me as Gore is politically grandstanding, he couldn't get the American presidency through the traditional route so he has gone out to show himself as a world loving, caring humanitarian. My local paper proclaimed Al Gore's home uses as much energy in a month as an average U.S. citizen's house uses in a year, if he truly believed in climate change wouldn't he do something to correct this? He's just another lying politician who can't be trusted.

But what about the information within the video? Just because the presenter is untrustworthy does not mean that the information is bad. Also, if done properly it will help teach them to think critically of politicians and the like.

[Baarst]

Quote by: Rinoa But what about the information within the video? Just because the presenter is untrustworthy does not mean that the information is bad. Also, if done properly it will help teach them to think critically of politicians and the like.

My point is he doesn't put into practice what he preaches in his film, therefore both he and the film lose credibility.

[Rinoa]

I can see how he would lose credibility, but honestly, that's just a bad casting job. It doesn't necessarily say anything as to whether or not the facts themselves are good. It's two seperate issues.

[CoffeeSaint]

Quote by: Baarst If I had to make a definite decision on the topic I would say no. It appears to me as Gore is politically grandstanding, he couldn't get the American presidency through the traditional route so he has gone out to show himself as a world loving, caring humanitarian. My local paper proclaimed Al Gore's home uses as much energy in a month as an average U.S. citizen's house uses in a year, if he truly believed in climate change wouldn't he do something to correct this? He's just another lying politician who can't be trusted.

Speaking of critical thinking and unreliable sources, you're taking the word of your local paper? Where did they get their information? And why didn't they give you the whole story: that Gore buys carbon credits to offset all of his energy use, thus his carbon footprint is zero net, which is the goal that he pushes in the film. He's not suggesting that we stop using all power immediately, just that we take the obvious actions to offset our use: plant trees, use carbon capture technology, use renewable energy and energy efficient technology. Does the editor of your local paper do any of those things?

And let's remember that while Gore might be a lying politician, at least his lies didn't sink us in a war and kill thousands of American soldiers. And he did win the Presidency in the traditional way: with the majority of the popular vote leading to the majority of the electoral votes. He lost it in a most untraditional way: we call it "theft."


There. Both sides have now been presented.:)

[Milton Bradley]

Quote by: CoffeeSaint And let's remember that while Gore might be a lying politician, at least his lies didn't sink us in a war and kill thousands of American soldiers. And he did win the Presidency in the traditional way: with the majority of the popular vote leading to the majority of the electoral votes. He lost it in a most untraditional way: we call it "theft."

No, that is the Republicans job. The Democrats mire us in debt, and unending burauecracy.

Quote by: CoffeeSaint There. Both sides have now been presented.:)

Aren't there more than two sides to most arguements?


As with all "debate" going on in the halls of Congress these days, the debates are always framed as if there are only two sides, and only two sides are ever heard.

[Slevin57]

Global Warming is here. There is scientific evidence to back it up. Yet, it's still not believed by some people.

There are of course other issues that suffer the same fate. Even if there are 999,999 Scientists that believe Global Warming is real, as long as one scientist is willing to dissent it will give a far greater number of people opportunity to procrastinate.

Even if Global Warming isn't real, there will be no harm done making an effort to clean up the environment.

[Jubloz]

Quote by: Milton Bradley I have seen Al Gore called to task over some of the material presented in that film, and his reply was, get this... "I don't feel it's critical to stick to the truth when the issue is getting the message out". ( That is a paraphrase, but it's pretty close. )

Do you have a citation for this that I can read, please?

[tinybear]

Should "An Inconvenient Truth" be shown in classrooms? My answer is no. Too boring.