W.Va. board passes science standards allowing climate change debate
By Samuel Speciale - Charleston Daily Mail
Two months after withdrawing its controversial science education standards with modifications that would have asked students to question the scientific community's assertion that global warming is caused by human greenhouse emissions, the West Virginia Board of Education voted Thursday to amend the standards once again to allow classroom debate on climate change.
Despite months of national scrutiny from media outlets, teachers and educational organizations that support scientific research proving human activity causes climate change, the board voted 6-2 to approve the newly amended standards, which will now go into effect on July 1, 2016.
While the amended language differs from what the board redacted in January, after unanimously approving the first set of changes in December, the new standards contain many of the same directives, which allow students to use scientific models to form their own conclusions on the debated topic.
Opponents of the changes, pointing out peer-reviewed research on climate change, have said scientific facts are not open for debate.
Many also accused the board of catering to special interests like West Virginia's coal industry. However, supporters of the changes, including board members Wade Linger and Tom Campbell, argued that "science is never settled" and that debate will lead students into a deeper understanding of the issue ...
W.Va. board passes science standards allowing climate change debate By Samuel Speciale, Education reporter for the Charleston Daily Mail
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