A survey earlier in the year found that many science teachers aren’t dedicating a lot of time to teaching about the accepted science behind climate change, and some teachers are speaking out about why that might be the case.

According to several teachers that spoke to NPR’s Michigan Radio, teaching climate change in the classroom is a difficult thing.

Craig Whipkey teaches about climate change, but he has to deal with being called a “tree hugger” and receiving insults from unhappy parents.

And aside from dealing with unhappy parents, Michigan Radio points out that the issue oftentimes complicates relationships between teachers and school boards.

"Other science teachers have been challenged for teaching climate change. Many times, it becomes an issue when a district is ordering new textbooks,” Michigan Radio said.

"Some school board members don’t like when books present human-caused climate change as fact. They want to provide competing views.”

Providing “competition views” when teaching climate change is an easy way to anger someone who is passionate about the science behind it.

“It’s really unfair not to teach kids the accurate science," said National Center for Science Education’s Minda Berbeco.

In February, a NCSE commissioned survey found that three out of five science teachers are unaware of or “actively misinformed about the scientific consensus on climate change.”

Berbeco at the time however, said there is hope as the majority of the teachers said they would be open to receiving professional development to better teach the subject.

Read the full story.

Nicole Gorman, Education World Contributor

5/17/2016

Related readings:

• NCSE Roundup: Why Students Need Climate Change Education
• National Survey Reveals Many Teachers Misinformed About Science Behind Climate Change 
• Resources for Teaching Climate Change to Younger Students