Antinuclear

Liberal Senator wants “balance” in teaching Climate Science

Liberal senator Concetta Fierravanti-Wells said she hoped the curriculum would reflect balance if there were a divergence of expert views on the subject of climate science.

Push to oust climate science from schools * Joe Kelly   The Australian * June 14, 2011 SCHOOL Education Minister Peter Garrett has confirmed the Gillard government will not stop the teaching of climate science in the classroom following a move in Britain for the subject to be withdrawn from the national curriculum. Mr Garrett clarified last night that climate change was not taught as a curriculum subject in its own right in Australian schools, but could be adequately dealt with in science and geography classes. “We have a cross-curriculum theme which is sustainability, and I think climate change would be an element of that,” he said on the ABC’s Q&A program. Mr Garrett said climate change would not be taught as a unique subject under the new national curriculum but students would become familiarised with the issue in the course of their schooling. A government adviser overseeing a shake-up to teaching in England and Wales has urged that the subject of climate change be cut from the national curriculum so educators can return to the basics of science in schools…

.. However, Mr Garrett said it was unequivocal that there was a consensus of scientific opinion on the reality of climate change. “That is something that should be reflected in the ordinary course of a student’s education….. Mr Garrett said the debate about climate change in Australia nearly defied belief, given the symptoms of dangerous climate change were already starting to become obvious.

Liberal senator Concetta Fierravanti-Wells said she hoped the curriculum would reflect balance if there were a divergence of expert views on the subject of climate science. “If there are different opinions, then it’s important in our schools that those opinions are taught,” ions are taught,” she said. Push to oust climate science from schools | The Australian

June 13, 2011 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | AUSTRALIA - NATIONAL, climate change - global warming | climate change - global warming