More ‘climate’ lessons in Oregon schools?

The photo relates to “climate” only in that our Oregon climate is, unfortunately, well suited to the proliferation of dandelions like this.

Democrats in the Oregon legislature issued a press release proudly announcing that the House had approved a bill requiring that children in public schools must be taught about “climate change” as part of all core subjects.

The bill is HB 3365, which cleared the House on April  17.  The vote was 32 Democrats for and 23 Republicans against.

Rep. Sarah Finger McDonald of Corvallis, whose 16th House District includes part of North Albany, was one of he chief sponsors. The press announcement quoted her:

“Climate change is here. It’s real. It’s undeniable. And it’s hurting people. We must equip the next generation with the knowledge and skills to do better than we did. We need deep investment in climate education. We need the next generation to save the planet.”

Well, okay. But maybe the next generation might be better equipped to save Oregon, if not the planet, if  it was sufficiently schooled in the core subjects themselves.

As listed in state law, the core subjects (for which the State Board of Education must “regularly and periodically review and revise its Common Curriculum Goals, performance indicators and diploma requirements”) are mathematics, science, language arts, history, geography, economics, civics, higher education and career path skills, personal financial education, physical education, health, the arts and world languages.

How are we doing on core subjects such as reading and math? Not that hot, on average, judging by the annual reports on test scores nationwide. The scholastic achievement of children in Oregon schools now ranks near the bottom among the states.

Maybe our schools already spend too much time on the topic the House Democrats want them to spend more time on.

In support of the bill, someone submitted testimony saying, “I teach as part of a magnate (sic) program that focuses on environmental education.” The program the person referred to takes place in grades K-2 and 3-5.

Perhaps that magnet program might want to focus on reading instead.

You would think that if the vast majority of Oregon high school graduates had a solid grounding not just in language arts but mainly in math and science, they could tell the difference between propaganda and fact where “climate” is concerned.

And if they could tell the difference, they would be equipped to deal with whatever challenges our society must face in the decades to come. (hh)