Get a copy of "The Skeptical Environmentalist" by Bjorn Lomborg:
Try Dixy Lee Ray's books.
Tell the teacher it is Global Norming, get used to it.
Get a copy of "The Skeptical Environmentalist" by Bjorn Lomborg:
have her ask the teacher - how did the ice ages end? didn't the earth warm up during those periods of time? were there any "man made" factors involved in those warming periods?
no.
I feel for you. A few months ago, in a college class of mine, we were forced to watch 'Roger and Me.' Having known about it a month before we were shown it, I made good use of my time by digging up all the dirt I could get on 'Roger and Me,' so after we watched the film, I used the knowledge I found to tear into the film, and expose all its holes.
That being said, to assume the entire movie is crap would be foolish. To deny that humans are having a substantial and negative impact on the planet is simply ludicrous.
It may be quite some time before the actual truth of the full extent of that impact comes out.
Don't these movies have to pass through a screening process?
They can't just show any old movie.
In fact my understanding these days is that there is a curriculum approval process.
You can also counter this teachers propaganda with demands that the myths pushed by algore be countered with the overwhelming science of the other side.
Embrace it as a chance to counter it hard with the facts.
I was just looking at Druge and the forecast for hurricanes during the 2006 season. Show her that. It will show her that experts are not always expert at predicting weather.
Junkscience.com is probably your best online source of info. It may take some research through their archives, but you will find a veritable treasure trove of info.
Here's some links to some rebuttals to Al Gore:
Inconvenient Truths for Al Gore -- Episode 1: "Pollution"
http://www.cei.org/gencon/030,05621.cfm
Inconvenient Truths for Al Gore -- Episode 2: "Hurricane Catarina"
http://www.cei.org/gencon/030,05623.cfm
Inconvenient Truths for Al Gore -- Episode 3: "Warming Rate"
http://www.cei.org/gencon/030,05622.cfm
Inconvenient Truths for Al Gore -- Episode 4: "Moulins"
http://www.cei.org/gencon/030,05624.cfm
There was also an article, a few weeks back, where they completely debunk the use of climate models in predicting Global Warming. Very technical, but they openly challenged any climate modeler to refute their conclusions, a challenge which still stands.
My kids are constantly challenged at school, at church, and even among family members about what they believe. We talk about it. I don't think you can change the teacher. But you can, and should help your kid reconcile conflicting information from people in positions of authority. As long as they can do that, they don't need to beat the teacher in an argument. Frankly, one of the things you have to learn growing up is how to pick your battles, and don't pick battles with the boss unless you feel you have to.
If outside of class, your daughter can tell her friends why she doesn't buy what the teacher is selling, she will have more positive influence than by arguing with the teacher.
I kind of got away from my main point I started with. I think it is important that my kids know what they believe and why. When it is challenged, I work with them to reconcile what they see, hear, and believe. I think it is effective. I don't have to change the world... just give my kids a chance to grow and be strong in their beliefs, even when they don't see eye to eye with mine.
Try Falsehoods in Gore's An Inconvenient Truth compiled by Wm. Robert Johnston at http://www.johnstonsarchive.net/environment/gore.html and the links he gives.
Global warming. It may be heating up a bit, but only in the northern hemisphere which is from the sun. Also, anyone watch Bill Nye the science guy? He also had a show on global warming where the scientists took samples from the ice cap, I think, and the earth has warmed up twice before. Just a natural phenomenon. Get out the sunscreen, grow lots of trees to absorb the sun's rays, and enjoy not having to buy foreign oil during the winter. I am sure there are plenty of scientists who can also refute most of what goregon said in his report, although I do believe in being responsible with the earth. This Is My Father's World, you know.
I would educate my child on the side but not encourage the student to "debate" the teacher on a political subject like this. It's a no-win situation. The child will just get a worse grade. The entire educational system is teeming with liberals with views like this. The problem is systemic and requires structural remedies. You should take this up with the school board yourself and not encourage your child to take the teachers on.
Simply ask her to consider the idea of a static world, a static universe......and WTH, a static mind.