Federal Way schools restrict Gore film

“Condoms don’t belong in school, and neither does Al Gore. He’s not a schoolteacher,” said Frosty Hardison, a parent of seven who also said that he believes the Earth is 14,000 years old. “The information that’s being presented is a very cockeyed view of what the truth is. … The Bible says that in the end times everything will burn up, but that perspective isn’t in the DVD.”

People are allowed to believe what they want.  Some people want to interpret the Bible literally (to which I say they don’t because there are hundreds of draconian rules in Leviticus that they surely don’t follow), which is completely asinine.  How can anyone possibly believe the Earth is a mere 14000 years old?  In the face of overwhelming evidence to the contrary?!?!

School Board members adopted a three-point policy that says teachers who want to show the movie must ensure that a “credible, legitimate opposing view will be presented,” that they must get the OK of the principal and the superintendent, and that any teachers who have shown the film must now present an “opposing view.”

The requirement to represent another side follows district policy to represent both sides of a controversial issue, board President Ed Barney said.

“What is purported in this movie is, ‘This is what is happening. Period. That is fact,’ ” Barney said.

No no, Mr. Barney.  Technically it is all just a theory.  But it is one with overwhelming evidence supporting it.  Al Gore just isn’t pulling it out of his ass when he says that it’s a virtual scientific consensus.  The scientists who oppose this view are either (a) hired by special interest groups funded by oil companies or (b) not necessarily skeptical of the theory, but wary of sweeping proclamations (that many proponents of global warming make with a lot of ease and not a lot of support).

And the measures a teacher has to go through to present ANY material: multiple levels of approval (to the SUPERINTENDENT?!?!?!) is completely ridiculous!