"Groups that support teaching students about the evidence showing that humans are contributing to a global rise in temperatures are speaking out against West Virginia's changes to the state's new K-12 science education standards," reports the Charleston Gazette (January 4, 2015).
As NCSE previously reported, the board asked for changes to the Next Generation Science Standards to downplay climate change. Wade Linger, a member of the board, told the Gazette (December 28, 2014), "We're on this global warming binge going on here," adding, "We need to look at all the theories about it."
Among the groups denouncing the changes was NCSE. Mark McCaffrey contributed a column to the Gazette (January 4, 2015), observing, "On climate, the standards follow the National Research Council's Framework for K-12 Science Education, which in turn reflect the consensus of the scientific community."
But, he explained, the revisions compromise the scientific integrity of the NGSS, misrepresenting the facts and conveying "the misrepresentation that climate change is scientifically controversial." He concluded, "the board's revisions to the standards undermine the quality of West Virginia's public education system."
Jim Probst, West Virginia's state coordinator for Citizens Climate Lobby, told the Gazette that the changes were irresponsible. "They've instituted inaccuracies into the standards, and that, just on face value, seems wrong ... It's service to our kids, it just really is. Reality is one thing, and hoping that it isn't is something else entirely."
Also denouncing the changes was Climate Parents, whose director Lisa Hoyos told the Gazette, "It's a deeply inappropriate concern that the kids shouldn't get to learn the truth about climate change because it might impact the coal industry." Climate Parents plans to petition the board to rescind the changes.
The board's attorney told the Gazette that a member of the board could introduce a proposal to rescind the changes at a future meeting. If the board voted for the proposal, a policy would then be prepared for a future vote. "The policy cycle includes a 30-day comment period, opportunity for change based on comments[,] and a final vote to implement the change."