School Board Member Skeptical of Textbook
Saucon Valley School Board member Bryan Eichfeld raised concerns over a social studies text that includes information about global warming at the board's Jan. 23 meeting.
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As school board members were about to vote to adopt the new textbooks for the 2012-2013 school year at their Jan. 23 meeting, board member Bryan Eichfeld asked to table the decision due to a book he said he does not believe will benefit students.
Eichfeld’s motion did not pass, but it caused discussion among school board members and the administration.
“The book talks about global warming,” Eichfeld said. “It is presented as fact. (Global warming) is a theory and not a fact.”
Eichfeld said he does not believe global warming is a proven fact, and said the subject may become “obsolete in a few years.”
“This smacks of censorship to me,” said board member Charles Bartolet.
The book in question, titled "Globalization and Diversity," is not a science text. It is for a high school social studies course in global studies and world cultures.
Eichfeld asked that another book be selected for the class.
“The book fits the need for the particular course,” said assistant superintendent Carl Atkinson. “I've spoken to the department. The teacher has identified (global warming) is a topic, but it is not a major part of the course.”
Eichfeld said the book promotes a “negative connotation towards capitalism.”
“There is a big evilness in the way it is presented,” he said.
"I trust in the books selected by the professionals," said board member Lanita Lum. "I only have a problem if the way (the course) is taught becomes political."
Eichfeld said he was disappointed that the school board did not vote to at least review the book, and that he will continue to research texts used in the district.
Bob Linney
9:19 am on Friday, January 27, 2012
I agree with Terri that Eichfeld want to include Tea Party "propaganda and brainwashing" to the school's curriculum.
I don't know why Eichfeld was not forthright with the citizens about his leaderdhip postion in the Saucon Valley Tea Party and their extreme agneda prior to the election. When I see "evilness" it is usually first cloaked by deceit.
Jason
8:19 am on Saturday, January 28, 2012
What exactly is th "evil" Tea Party agenda? I would really like to know.
Jennifer Adams
1:29 pm on Monday, January 30, 2012
I'm just applying a little common sense here, but it looks to me like Eichfeld is trying to GET RID OF the "propaganda and brainwashing" that already exists in the textbook, not injecting his own.
Bob Linney
1:38 pm on Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Jason, with regard to "evil" I was just referring to Eichfeld's statement about the "big evilness in the way it was presented." I never said that the Tea Party's agenda was evil. My comment on "evilness" was that Eichfeld was deceitful in not sharing with the voters his strong association with the Tea Party's ideas and agenda. If he is proud of his association then he should share it with the voters.
Jennifer, your comment is based on the presumption that increased amounts of CO2 (or other greenhouse gases like methane) in the atmosphere don't have any effects on the temperatures of the Earth's surface. Some of the sources of these gases are from nature and some are from human activity. The percent impact of natural verses human sources is a disputed point. What is not disputed by the vast majority of scientists on both sides of the issue is that increased levels of greenhouse gases will cause an increase in the Earth's temperatures. This is a topic that should be a part of the science curriculum. It helps the students to develop skills in critical thought processes.
Scott Korin
9:22 am on Friday, January 27, 2012
Now I feel stupid for no making sure I voted in the last election. :<
Scott Korin
9:23 am on Friday, January 27, 2012
*not
Geri Flores
9:35 am on Friday, January 27, 2012
What a pity. I hope this makes people realize you have to watch what you ask for because you just might get it. Remember Eichfeld's vote for the music teachers? We can only hope that he'll make a really good name for himself within the Tea Party ranks and maybe move on from our school board.
Terri Simpson
11:30 am on Friday, January 27, 2012
Geri, Honestly you must really have a sad life. Thank You for following my mistakes I get great happiness knowing I get under your skin.
Sundance
1:08 pm on Friday, January 27, 2012
Understanding the difference between normal science and post-normal science is key to understanding the scientific constraints of the theory of global warming.
Are you going to teach children that Africa has damaged its own habitat through land use changes due to population growth over time or are you going to teach them that Western modernization is the cause of Africa's complex problems? At the moment normal science is not able to provide enough information to determine a breakout of specific cause and effect for such matters. Scientific understanding of local and regional climate attribution is extremely poor. We blamed Kilimanjaro ice loss on warming until scientists checked local thermometers and found there had been no warming on Kilimanjaro.
Will lessons include topics covering the irrational climate views of Mayans or the culture of eviro fascism exploited by the German Green Party and symbolized by the "Nazi Oaks" handed out at the 1936 Olympics? The children could certainly benefit from a comparison between the green fascist movement of the 1930s and radical environmentalism today.
Will the children learn of the numerous benefits of global warming (live longer, more food, etc.)? Will it be explained how global warming is exploited to create fear for political gain? Will they learn how post-normal science has fabricated scenarios of future climate based on untested and unproven climate models?
How do you assure that a green agenda is not promoted? Not easy.
truth seeker
1:32 pm on Friday, January 27, 2012
The references to the tea party here are correct. Eichfeld will introduce this agenda over the next couple of years and he will then try to help his fellow tea party friends get elected in the next election cycle. People of Saucon if that is what you want go for it. My guess is that you care about your school district because it is a good one.
Jennifer Adams
1:47 pm on Monday, January 30, 2012
Sounds good to me. What's wrong with the so-called "tea-party" agenda of reining in out-of-control spending while at the same time examining the curriculum to make sure it is 1)true and 2)worthy of our childrens' educational needs. Yes, I'll have more of that, thank you! Whether you want to admit it or not, there is already an agenda in our schools, there's always an agenda. The question is, what agenda would you like it to be?
truth seeker
7:50 pm on Monday, January 30, 2012
A scholl board nees to be concerned with education. These tea party people are not interested in that at all. Sacon valley is a good school district and I hope that it stays that way.
Jennifer Adams
8:46 am on Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Sounds like the tea party people are concerned about education. Isn't that why Eichfeld is asking for more time to review a new textbook being introduced in the classroom? Saucon Valley may be a good school district but it could always be better.
Scott Korin
6:22 pm on Friday, January 27, 2012
The one big problem with school board members perusing textbooks before approving them is that for the most part, the school board members are not education professionals.
I don't want a politician deciding whether a text book is a good choice, I want the teachers in the department, head of curriculum, principal, and superintendent doing that. All the school board should do is decide if the district has the money to spend on the textbook.
Jennifer Adams
1:49 pm on Monday, January 30, 2012
It is a myth that only "education professionals" have the ability to properly review educational material. The growing homeschool movement has dispelled that myth.
Gerard
8:00 am on Saturday, January 28, 2012
I think Bryan Eichfeld is right on the money, global warming junk science propaganda has no place in school where they teach our children. Saucon valley parents have an advocate who is a firewall for their children against this garbage. He should be applauded for his actions. If adults want to have an "earth" religion, let them, but keep you hands off our kids' minds.
truth seeker
10:42 am on Saturday, January 28, 2012
I'll bet if one looks at this book it presents global warming and shows some of the data behind it. If this part of the book is used by a teacher, he or she should mention that the theory remains a controversy. Trying to say that the entire book should be tossed out is part of the right wing tea party agenda. Tons of curriculum taught in schools falls into the same category: Causes of wars, How the dinosaurs became extinct, pros and cons of the industrial revolution etc.
Terri Simpson
9:09 am on Saturday, January 28, 2012
Truth is evil to all progessives.