What Do 6th Graders Know that Al Gore Doesn’t? Global Warming … Humans aren’t to blame.

Kids say the most amazing things … Humans aren’t to blame for global warming.

This is a perfect example of what education should be. Allowing a debate to be just that, a debate. Also, allowing students to think for themselves presented with ideas and facts vs. having a political agenda forced on them as the gospel.

Global warming was on trial at Trail Ridge Middle School and the verdict was … Humans don’t cause global warming. What a great lesson for Al Gore and the Left to witness, a debate where others are not demonized as heretics for having an opposing view point. Isn’t it amazing what can happen when individuals are allowed to debate issues without person attacks. This is a civics lesson that all students and adults should learn from of all ages.

“The earth has warmed and cooled over many years. If it’s caused by CO2, why haven’t the charts shot up?” Poppe’s son and lead prosecutor Caleb argued during a rebuttal.

In a climax that sent half the class to its feet and forced the judge to call for order, opponent Monique Nem slapped a contradictory graph onto the prosecution’s table.

“We’ve proven you wrong! The CO2 levels have shot up,” she said.

The jury responded more warmly, however, to Caleb Poppe’s response: The graphic cited a Hawaiian source; Hawaii has volcanoes; volcanoes emit CO2.

Check out the two sides closing arguments and hear whether this doesn’t sound like the familiar fact vs emotional argument that is overly perverted by political agendas today of adults.

In closing arguments, Alexia Hegy said global temperatures actually decreased in the 1960’s, while the global population rose. Humans cannot be at fault, she concluded.

With the final word, defense attorney Sarah Steed countered: “It all comes back to us, the people — not the sun, not the weather. We need to turn off lights when we don’t need them. Bikes can work. The environment can be richer.”

Palaeontology teacher Ken Poppe who conducted this debate should be commended and given a teacher of the year award. He presented the issue for the debate and actually allowed his class to think and debate for themselves without what has become all too common “leftist” teacher tactics. Some parents were worried when this topic was to be debated as they feared it would be the same old “brain washing” techniques regarding global warming.

“What I think is not the issue. It’s what the students dig up and how they present the case,” Poppe said.

Only one parent questioned Poppe’s decision to hold a global warming debate. That mother expected him to present Al Gore’s global warming movie “An Inconvenient Truth” as indisputable facts, Poppe said. After he explained his neutrality in the classroom, the mom allowed her child to participate in the debate, he said. (Longmont FYI)