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A new lesson for California students? Global warming


Thursday, February 14, 2008

By Tony Burchyns, Vallejo Times-Herald staff writer

Reading, writing, and… global warming?

A Silicon Valley lawmaker is gaining momentum with a bill that would require “climate change” to be among the science topics that all California public school students are taught.

The measure, by State Sen. Joe Simitian, D-Palo Alto, also would mandate that future science textbooks approved for California public schools include climate change.

“You can’t have a science curriculum that is relevant and current if it doesn’t deal with the science behind climate change,” Simitian said.“This is a phenomenon of global importance and our kids ought to understand the science behind that phenomenon.”

The state senate approved the bill, SB 908, Jan. 30 by a 26-13 vote. It heads now to the state Assembly. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has taken numerous actions to reduce global warming, but he has yet to weigh on Simitian’s bill. But other Republicans in the Capitol are not happy about the proposal.

Full article on San Jose Mercury News website