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How ALEC is Destroying the Teaching of Climate Change Science, One State at a Time

Tennessee just became the fourth state in the nation to include climate change denial in their science education curriculum. Who's behind this crafty legislation? You guessed it.

Photo Credit: Helder Almeida via Shutterstock.com









The ALEC Model Bill

As DeSmogBlog reportedin January, the Tennessee bill is based on an ALEC model bill passed in May 2000. We explained at the time,

"The bill's opening clause reads[PDF], 'The purpose of this act is to enhance and improve the environmental literacy of students and citizens in the state by requiring that all environmental education programs and activities conducted by schools, universities, and agencies shall…'

  • Provide a range of perspectives presented in a balanced manner.
  • Be presented in language appropriate for education rather than for propagandizing.
  • Encourage students to explore different perspectives and form their own opinions.
  • Encourage an atmosphere of respect for different opinions and open-mindedness to new ideas.
  • Not be designed to change student behavior, attitudes or values.
  • Not include instruction in political action skills nor encourage political action activities."

To summarize, under this model bill and its relatives, global warming will be taught as a "theory" among other "credible theories," including those unscientific "theories" peddled by the well-paid "merchants of doubt." 

This, of course, flies in the face of the well-accepted scientific consensus, which has proven global warming as the harsh reality, time and time again. The science speaks for itself, and the fossil fuel money funding climate change deniers speaks for itself.  

The Tennessee Bill

Key portions of the Tennessee bills are as follows (emphases mine):

  • "The teaching of some scientific subjects, including, but not limited to,biological evolution, the chemical origins of life, global warming, and humancloning, can cause controversy."
  • "The state board of education, public elementary and secondary school governing authorities, directors of schools, school system administrators, and public elementary and secondary school principals and administrators shall endeavor tocreate an environment within public elementary and secondary schools that encourages students to…respond appropriately and respectfully to differences of opinion about controversial issues."
  • Neither the state board of education, nor any public elementary or secondary school governing authority, director of schools, school system administrator, or any public elementary or secondary school principal or administrator shall prohibit any teacher in a public school system of this state fromhelping students understand, analyze, critique, and review in an objective manner the scientific strengths and scientific weaknesses of existing scientific theories covered in the course being taught."

Look familar? It should. 


These voices of reason were no opposition to ALEC, its corporate backers, and the politicians who serve them, which saw the bill pass with little opposition whatsoever. 

A Review: Bill Written By and For Corporate Polluters

We wrote this back in January:




The Heartland Institute (of Heartland Exposed infamy) was formerly heavily funded by ExxonMobiland Koch Industries, just like ALEC was at the time that Liddy Bourne's committee devised the 'Environmental Literacy Improvement Act.' These two corporations are infamous for their funding of climate change "skeptic" think tanks and front groups.  


Getting Them While They're Young: A Cynical Maneuver 

DeSmogBlog stands by what it wrote in January:



Looks like its four down, 46 states to go for ALEC.

The fight has only just begun.



Steve Horn is a Researcher and Writer for DeSmogBlog, focusing primarily on domestic and international natural gas drilling operations and its interplay with international geopolitics. He lives in Madison, WI.