Berkeley High School is in the midst of a difficult debate over the elimination of science labs and five science teachers to shift resources to help struggling students. Some have objected that the science courses primarily help white students and should be reduced to add greater “equity” for struggling and minority students.
The school board insists that it is merely trying to spread resources to benefit the more students and to create a “less stressful” environment.
What is curious is that the school’s data page shows that the student body is roughly 37% white, so that it would not be surprising to see a large number of white students in any class. Moreover, Mardi Sincular-Mertens, who has taught science at BHS for 24 years, said that there are twelve African-American males in her AP classes and that her four environmental science classes are 17.5 percent African American and 13.9 percent Latino.
It seems to me that cutting such science classes is a bizarre response given the efforts to train our students for the 21st Century world. Other countries are putting far greater emphasis on math and science and we are already seeing the impact of this educational gap. The minority community in particular is at risk of being underprepresented in the science field — the most promising careers in the decade to come.
The story also reminds us of the continued reduction of educational programs and the sale of public buildings and parks as the government continues to burn through billions of dollars in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, here. I have personally heard of science and other programs being cut out in my area due to a lack of funding as billions simply evaporate abroad, including continued allegations of corruption.
For the full story, click here.
So it would appear to skeptics that there are some major victories and casualties that have taken place in less than sixty days.
Climategate- Hide the decline
Phil Jones- CRU steps aside investigation underway
Michael Mann- Penn State University, investigation underway
William Connolley- canned as Wiki administrator confirmed
Copenhagen- no binding agreement
Russia- confirms CRU manipulated data
World- temperatures have plummeted worldwide with major records broken and more on the way.
I would say this is a reversal over whether or not the science is settled.
By the way looks like the possibility of a record breaking snow event in Florida next week.
Has it ever snowed in Miami? Inquiring minds want to know.
Just remember the more CO2 that is released into the atmosphere the warmer the planet will get. Major snow events like the 1700 records that were broken in the last two weeks will become a thing of the past. Al Gore guarantee’s it.
and here
William Connolley and Wikipedia: Turborevisionism
http://wattsupwiththat.com/2009/12/22/william-connolley-and-wikipedia-turborevisionism/
and here
Wikibullies at work. The National Post exposes broad trust issues over Wikipedia climate information
http://wattsupwiththat.com/2009/12/19/wikibullies-at-work-the-national-post-exposes-broad-trust-issues-over-wikipedia-climate-information/
I put to many links in my post so it’s awaiting moderation, so if it appears again you’ll know why.
Seeing how you point me to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proof
I’ll redirect to here,
More on Wikipedia and Connolley – he’s been canned as a Wiki administrator.
http://wattsupwiththat.com/2009/12/19/more-on-wikipedia-and-connolley-hes-been-canned-as-a-wiki-administrator/
Seeing how you point me to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proof
I’ll redirect to here,
More on Wikipedia and Connolley – he’s been canned as a Wiki administrator.
http://wattsupwiththat.com/2009/12/19/more-on-wikipedia-and-connolley-hes-been-canned-as-a-wiki-administrator/
and here
Wikibullies at work. The National Post exposes broad trust issues over Wikipedia climate information
http://wattsupwiththat.com/2009/12/19/wikibullies-at-work-the-national-post-exposes-broad-trust-issues-over-wikipedia-climate-information/
Ah, but no one has painted the buildings nor been caught with the fiddle.
Bdaman,
Don’t worry about the facts. They have never gotten in your way before, so why worry about them now?
Bob, Esq.,
Have fun with the climate troll!
Bdaman: “Global Climate Change is NOT a “view”, it is a fact.
Prove it”
Could you be more specific?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proof
Global Climate Change is NOT a “view”, it is a fact.
Prove it
Global Climate Change is NOT a “view”, it is a fact. One should not be required to tell lies to “balance” the truth. Nor should students set their curriculum, especially in subjects they are completely ignorant of.
They should have a say in the cafeteria menu, though.
“The story also reminds us of the continued reduction of educational programs and the sale of public buildings and parks as the government continues to burn through billions of dollars in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, here. I have personally heard of science and other programs being cut out in my area due to a lack of funding as billions simply evaporate abroad, including continued allegations of corruption.”
************
And think of all the taxpayers’ money that went to bail out banks, other businesses on Wall Street. Some of the folks who were repsonsible for the economic chaos are still reaping bonuses for their fine work…while our middle class keeps shrinking. Where’s all the help that was promised for homeowners and small businesses?
************
Byron–
I think the US has actually been working its way toward third world country status for some years now. We’ve been burning for a long time–but we’re just beginning to smell the smoke.
A rapid ascension to third world status. Where is Nero when you need him most?
“The story also reminds us of the continued reduction of educational programs and the sale of public buildings and parks as the government continues to burn through billions of dollars in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, here. I have personally heard of science and other programs being cut out in my area due to a lack of funding as billions simply evaporate abroad, including continued allegations of corruption.”
Just wondering…
Would a board of education have a sufficiently justiciable claim to sue congress for an increase in funds?
Or, to put it another way, would the ‘injury in fact’ be sufficient enough ‘standing’ as to bar a motion to dismiss for ‘political question?’
Or could you pry open the door with the premise that congress lacks the official capacity to condone fraud; sort of a Clinton v. Jones type of argument?
Like I said, just wondering.
Wow, let’s dumb everyone down. Then they will qualify to run the damn place and/or be president. Look at what lil ole W did.
I guess Backey (sp) vs the California Regents has no applicability. Everybody is dumbed down together.
Student asks to give alternative view of global warming, says it primarily benefits the alarmist.
A Rhinebeck NY High School sophomore is urging the school district to require alternative views be presented by teachers on controversial topics like climate change.
Michelle Dewkett said the global warming documentary “An Inconvenient Truth” was being shown in science and English classes without equal weight being given to other positions on the topic.
“As of now, the teaching of controversial topics is out of control,” Dewkett told members of the Board of Education on Tuesday. She also said the district is not following its own policy of providing students with a wide range of materials.
Dewkett cited a class on global warming as an example, saying the effects of human activity on the environment are not being balanced with information about the natural course of changes on Earth.
“It says (global warming) will kill us all without offering any alternative views throughout high school,” she said. “This goes against board policy which states ‘Teachers shall approach controversial topics in an impartial and unprejudiced manner.’”
Dysgenics and the road to the bottom.
Sponsored by appeals to emotion and affirmative action.
Way to go, guys. What an embarrassment for liberalism. I’ve never seen a story in the news that involved an intelligent school board. At least the conservative ones only wanted to damage science curricula by reading kids blurbs on intelligent design crap. THIS is ridiculous.
What sort of opportunity do these people think they’re offering? You can get your education at a school which has refashioned itself as a remedial institution on the basis of the racial makeup of its student body? That’s a pretty strained concept of “equity”.
If you read the comments under the original article you’ll see this is attracting a huge public outcry tinged with racial hostility. These idiots in Berkeley have just dumped a wonderful Christmas present into the lap of American bigotry. It’s early in the AM hours here, and I haven’t checked Palin’s twitter feed yet, but I can see this story will gain traction in the media right away and will serve as a political bludgeon for a long time.
Equally ignorant is not something to shoot for in education.
It used to be that science was the last thing to go, not the first.
And racial / religious science?
http://ecocosmology.blogspot.com/2009/11/rebel-science-dark-matter-of-faith.html