"inconvenient truth" - assignment dilemma

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If the teacher is that committed to the global warming theory that he or she cannot abide by a well-researched challenge that has been presented well, he or she is hardly fit for teaching.

The teacher may or may not be aware of the population control aspect of this worldview. If he is, he has no business teaching at a Catholic school. It is for similar reasons I cannot possibly allow my son to attend our local Catholic school. If all the parents would get a backbone and insist on sound Catholic principles, we would not be in this predicament.

If you wish to compromise your Faith for worldly success, go ahead. But, don’t blame me for my resentment.
 
ChristinaM said:
I presume Caesar517 is thinking about the dance sequence where all the professors basically get up and sing about being former hippies. 😛
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Just more proof that hippies are the smartest people ever
😃
 
chinchiller said:
I’d let him do it. He’s not outright denying global warming, he’s just looking at it from another angle (which is a totally legitimate angle and your son has evidence to support it). I don’t see how any teacher would take offense to it (and, if they do, I would suggest talking to someone higher up because, really, a student who does research and wants to completely learn about a subject is not a bad thing…ever).

You could also suggest having him explain his research, but then suggest we still do things to clean up (that might appease the teacher if he’s looking for ways to “reduce” global warming). The earth, with or without global warming, it could still use some dusting and elbow grease. There’s really nothing wrong with recycling, driving less, conserving water, and not littering anyway.
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He and his lab partner have decided to do something along these lines. They are going to focus on recycling and in general keeping things picked up and clean.

My older son read this thread and was laughingly told me he saw this particular teacher driving away from school the other day…in a big ol’ SUV 😃 .
 
ChristinaM said:
I presume Caesar517 is thinking about the dance sequence where all the professors basically get up and sing about being former hippies. 😛
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Yep; that’s my favorite scene. It makes fun of how schools have become liberal indoctrination centers. 😃
 
Catholic90 said:
He and his lab partner have decided to do something along these lines. They are going to focus on recycling and in general keeping things picked up and clean.

My older son read this thread and was laughingly told me he saw this particular teacher driving away from school the other day…in a big ol’ SUV 😃 .
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I’d have a talk abut it with the teacher first, though, not just spring it on them.
 
LilyM said:
I’d have a talk abut it with the teacher first, though, not just spring it on them.
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Well, I asked my son about that. He said, “ABSOLUTELY NOT! Let me handle it and do it my way!”

Ok. I will trust my son to handle this. He is an A student, and can debate pretty well, so I will trust that he will be able to eloquently present this to the class and defend this to the teacher. His lab partner is also an A honor roll student, so he must be pretty sharp as well. My son told me his partner is also on the debate team…
 
Catholic90 said:
Well, I asked my son about that. He said, “ABSOLUTELY NOT! Let me handle it and do it my way!”

Ok. I will trust my son to handle this. He is an A student, and can debate pretty well, so I will trust that he will be able to eloquently present this to the class and defend this to the teacher. His lab partner is also an A honor roll student, so he must be pretty sharp as well. My son told me his partner is also on the debate team…
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Your son may be able to debate and a good student, but the teacher ultimately holds the whip hand. And the possible implications are that a) your son comes across as thinking he knows better/more than the teacher and b) he comes across as not trusting the teacher to agree to it ahead of time if asked.

All of which means that his ‘defence’ is likely go down about as well as a lead balloon when it could easily be otherwise. It’s a matter of courtesy that you don’t spring that sort of stuff on someone in authority over you. And courtesy counts as much or more than brains and arguing ability.

As a soon to be lawyer, I know that if I pull some extraordinary stunt in court without prior warning, the judge is way more likely to be miffed at my lack of courtesy towards him or her than impressed by my initiative and brilliance.
 
LilyM said:
Your son may be able to debate and a good student, but the teacher ultimately holds the whip hand. And the possible implications are that a)** your son comes across as thinking he knows better/more than the teacher** (is this a bad thing? Some kids DO know better than some teachers in some things! --and I am a teacher! Students are NOT to blindly follow anything and everything their teachers tell them! Critical thinking and all that…👍 Several teacher are diehard Obama fans. My sons know better than to blindly follow them in this area!) and b) he comes across as not trusting the teacher to agree to it ahead of time if asked.

All of which means that his ‘defence’ is likely go down about as well as a lead balloon (an aside: did you know lead balloons float? Mythbusters did it! 👍 )when it could easily be otherwise. It’s a matter of courtesy that you don’t spring that sort of stuff on someone in authority over you. And courtesy counts as much or more than brains and arguing ability.

My son has made it clear HE wants to handle this. I trust him implicitly to do so. He has made it VERY CLEAR he does not want ME involved in this. I respect his decision. So, whether he chooses to talk to the teacher beforehand or not will be HIS decision, not mine.

As a soon to be lawyer, I know that if I pull some extraordinary stunt in court without prior warning, the judge is way more likely to be miffed at my lack of courtesy towards him or her than impressed by my initiative and brilliance. Well, my son is nearly 14. I trust his judgment on this manner. Afterall, isn’t school for learning? He may learn quite a lot! (standing up for what you believe, eloquently arguing a point and supporting it with research, and not blindly following what “everyone else” is doing). I don’t know…I am kind of proud of him!😃
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I wish your son good luck. I think honesty and courage are worth more than straight A’s. Speaking the truth is easier when you practice it and get over the fear of failure.
 
Catholic90 said:
(is this a bad thing? Some kids DO know better than some teachers in some things! --and I am a teacher!
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Yes it is a very bad thing if he wants the teacher to actually listen to what he says and not just dismiss it because he comes across as an arrogant know-it-all.

It’s the difference between being right and alone, and right but, with a little tact, convincing others that you’re right too. The second option achieves much more in the end.
Students are NOT to blindly follow anything and everything their teachers tell them! Critical thinking and all that… Several teacher are diehard Obama fans. My sons know better than to blindly follow them in this area!)
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I’m not asking him to do that - just to follow Our Lord’s reminder that sometimes we need to be ‘cunning as serpents’ and not just bludgeon people willy-nilly over the head with our thoughts and opinions. You can be perfectly diplomatic and tactful without sacrificing truth. St Thomas More managed it successfully for a very long time - he didn’t stick his head out for that axe at the earliest opportunity y’know, he played a fairly long and brilliant diplomatic game, which he only gave up when absolutely against the wall.
My son has made it clear HE wants to handle this. I trust him implicitly to do so. He has made it VERY CLEAR he does not want ME involved in this. I respect his decision. So, whether he chooses to talk to the teacher beforehand or not will be HIS decision, not mine. Well, my son is nearly 14. I trust his judgment on this manner.
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I know what it is to be a VERY bright - not to mention stubborn (still am) 13 year old. I was one, and have a nephew right about that age who’s smart as a button as well. And at that age I knew NOTHING about handling people and situations, and neither does he. My stubbornness did me no end of needless harm.

See there’s a reason 13 year olds aren’t allowed to drink, smoke, vote, leave school, serve in the military, sign contracts, marry. Their judgement on a practical level just isn’t there.

Am I suggesting YOU talk to his teacher? Probably not. Am I suggesting you tell HIM to? Absolutely. Why not, if he’s ready to defend his beliefs then the sooner the better for him and everyone else.
Afterall, isn’t school for learning? He may learn quite a lot! (standing up for what you believe, eloquently arguing a point and supporting it with research, and not blindly following what “everyone else” is doing). I don’t know…I am kind of proud of him!
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Then tell him to do all that NOW, when it’s more likely to be beneficial. School is about learning social and negotiation skills, as well as values and beliefs. Not just about standing up for yourself, but learning how to do it in the most effective way.

Even Jesus avoided sticking His neck out on occasions - disappearing when people were looking to stone Him and so on.

I’ll leave you with a final thought - all I’m saying is get him to tell the teacher early. It’s the difference between calling your husband and saying ‘honey, I’m going to be home two hours late from work tonight’ and NOT calling and just turning up home two hours late.

Same basic scenario, totally different ways of handling it, one of which is so much obviously better all around that I’d NEVER let anyone I care about adopt the other approach!
 
LilyM said:
Yes it is a very bad thing if he wants the teacher to actually listen to what he says and not just dismiss it because he comes across as an arrogant know-it-all.

It’s the difference between being right and alone, and right but, with a little tact, convincing others that you’re right too. The second option achieves much more in the end.

Well, my son is definitely NOT arrogant! What he is, though, is a schmoozer. People seem to be drawn to him, like him, and they can’t even say why. He is very polite and well-mannered while asserting his independent thoughts. He is also very self-confident. He definitely does not come across as a “know it all”. At the last parent-teacher conferences, I had several teachers tell me how impressed they were with his thought processes in various areas and with how he handles himself in different situations.

He is constantly on the internet or having his nose in a book and then while in the car will pop out the most interesting facts…"hey mom, did you know that and then did you know that " He is a Mythbusters and Discovery Channel junkie. He also reads, for fun, about 1 book a month, in addition to his assigned homework, which takes him about 2-3 hours per night (he is in accelerated classes).

He is very knowledgeable, but definitely not arrogant or stuck up. He just knows that not everyone is right about everything all of the time, including teachers!
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Catholic90 said:
My kids attend a Catholic high school.

For the science class, they are watching in school Al Gore’s movie “An inconvenient truth”. Then for the assignment, they and their lab partner are to create a “public service announcement” regarding global warming. :mad:

So here’s the problem…my son and his partner have decided through their own research that global warming, while “maybe” possible is probably not man made. They both believe it is part of the general heating/cooling cycle that has happened over the millenia. They have quite a few sources they have found and have researched this quite well. They want to create an announcement that basically says global warming is a political tool and the data is questionable, so be critical of everything the mainstream media says.

How can they go about creating this “public service announcement” to appease the teacher while at the same time staying true to their own beliefs and own research without getting a lowered grade? My son says he is not worried about the lowered grade; he just wants to be truthful and present what they have found! (He is a straight A student, BTW).

Ah, the great dilemma of do you tell the teacher what he wants to hear to get the A, knowing what you really believe is nowhere near that, or do you tell the teacher what you really believe, risking a lowered grade?

I am pretty proud of my son and his lab partner, though! They have been busy boys!👍
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Just FYI, the last information I had there were no articles in Peer Reviewed Journals stating what your son is trying to prove. There are some other people saying that but their “theories” don’t hold up to review by their scientific peers and thus they are only published in secular rather than scientific magazines.

It’s one thing to go against the teacher if you can prove them wrong but it’s another when you can’t. The evidence from all scientific circles is overwhelming. The only people who seems to disagree have ties to the Bush administration and even those people have backed off the past year or so.

People can listen to propaganda and believe whatever they want but proving that is something else. If your son and his friend believe they can prove it then this could be much bigger than a local assignment.

Not trying to be negative, it’s just facts are facts. Just because someone on the news says something or states that one scientist believes something doesn’t mean it’s a valid argument.
 
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