News You Can Use
National Teachers Group Confronts Climate Change DenialCalling to Keep the Politics Out of Science Class
By Lee Chisholm, Science and Social Studies teacher The National Science Teachers Association issued a formal position paper asking K–12 science teachers throughout the United States, within their science classes, to proactively reject the idea that there is any scientific (as distinct from political or sociological) controversy about human-caused global warming. In its position statement, the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) calls on science teachers from kindergarten through high school to emphasize to students that "no scientific controversy exists regarding the basic facts of climate change."
(and all those yet unborn) have a fundamental right to a stable climate under the United States Constitution and the public trust doctrine. Their case asserts that the federal government is depriving them of life, liberty, property, and the equal protection of the laws by its actions and inactions in relation to the fossil fuel industry. The remedy they seek is not money damages for themselves, but rather a court-ordered national remedial plan for everybody—a plan that phases out fossil fuel emissions and draws down atmospheric levels of CO2 below 350 ppm (from the 410 ppm currently) by the year 2100. By bringing the third branch of government, the judicial, now into play after the legislative and the executive branches have so greatly and so long fallen short, Juliana v U.S. calls for a greater look into this issue, raising the level of importance of science. It could mean for environmental justice what Brown v. Board of Education meant for civil rights.
This fall, twenty-one plaintiffs, all students, are expected to begin the first day of trial in Juliana v. United States. A groundbreaking lawsuit, Juliana will be heard in the Federal District Court of Oregon. It was filed by young people for young people—in recognition of the fact that young people
Early Career Conference You may have missed our Pottery and Perks night, but don’t miss this event! MEA is hosting its first conference dedicated just to those who are in the first seven years of the profession. This half-day training session will share key information you need to keep your strength through the spring and how to make the best use of your union support. The conference is being held at Southern Maine Community College. If you live more than 90 miles outside of the event, MEA will pay for the cost of a hotel room the night before. Cost: Free for members, lunch provided Date: January 26, 9 AM-2PM Location: Southern Maine Community College FMI: maineea.org/conferences_trainings/
Make it a Seussical Day with a grant from MEA! NEA's Read Across America will take place on Friday, March 1, 2019 to celebrate Dr. Seuss' birthday! To help plan and prepare for a reading celebration, MEA is offering Read Across America Incentive Grants to our local associations who sponsor association activities for this event. Grants of $50 each will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. Requests must be made by the 10
Maine Educator • December 2018
local association President for funding of activities within the local association. Grant applications must be signed by the Local Association President and can be found at maineea.org/read-across-america/ GRANT DEADLINE: FEBRUARY 6, 2019
