Last week students won a significant victory for academic freedom when the West Virginia Board of Education voted 6-2 to amend teaching standards to allow consideration of all facts when studying global warming.

Your public comments helped!

West Virginia columnist James H. “Smokey” Shott praised CFACT’s efforts on behalf of academic freedom in the Bluefield Daily Telegraph.

Let’s congratulate the state BOE for finally getting it right, and award special kudos to Mr. Linger and Mr. Campbell for their leadership in blowing away Bluefield Daily Telegraph Mastheadthe dark clouds of censorship, and opening the way for contrary ideas to be voiced and discussed. And let’s also acknowledge the efforts of CFACT and WVU and MU students for taking a stand for openness in public education…

the Gazette reported on January 14 that following a period of public comment the BOE yielded to criticism from ‘teachers, professors and others,’ and withdrew the changes, and again opened a period of public comment.

One wonders exactly what “teachers, professors and others” fear from opening debate on this topic, or any topic?

Shott aptly compared efforts to prevent scientists and experts from presenting observations which contradict the global warming narrative to efforts to prevent Galileo from presenting his data which disproved the geocentric model of the solar system.

One gets the idea that climate alarmists’ positions are so weak that they have to prevent contrary views from being aired for their ideas to win the day.

However, limiting discussion of controversial topics is precisely the wrong thing to do. Why would any reasonable and objective person object to discussing opposing views of important issues such as global warming/climate change, abortion, gun control, vaccinations, the “right” and “wrong” kinds of foods and drinks to consume? As BOE members Linger and Campbell pointed out, such openness will lead only to a deeper understanding of the issues.

There is certainly nothing wrong with the concept of standards of learning, but school boards at every level must be careful to assure that by adopting a set of standards they are not actually imposing ideological perspectives on young, impressionable minds.

CFACT Executive Director Craig Rucker, Marc Morano, who edits CFACT’s Climate Depot news and information service and a contingent of students from CFACT Collegians chapters at the University of West Virginia and Marshall University testified before the Board, which voted in January to temporarily pull back the amended standards and further consider the matter.

CFACT remains committed to protecting academic freedom, free speech and the right of scientists to publish their findings (no matter how inconvenient), wherever and whenever these fundamental rights are threatened.

Thanks for your help!

IMG_0187