Why Are There Political Pep Rallies

At The Middle School?

To the Editor:

The snow day came one day too late last week to spare hundreds of eighth graders from a pep rally for political action under the guise of science education. Last Tuesday, a mandatory assembly was held at the Newtown Middle School, conducted by the Alliance for Climate Education (ACE).

So, who is ACE? In not much time on their website (www.acespace.org) I found that ACE is founded by the CEO of a wind energy company, and ACE has the stated goal of creating a political movement led by youth.

From what I’ve learned about the assembly, students saw a captivating audio-visual presentation led by a 20-something ACE recruit. They were told that the standard of living in first world countries is wrong and must be radically changed. The consequences of not doing this are dire and catastrophic. No opposing scientific viewpoints were presented about humans’ effect on global warming (obviously).

Students were informed that youth have been key to driving social changes in the past, and then were asked, “Will Newtown Middle School be a leader to help solve this problem?” This got a rousing “Yes” from the students.

The students were asked to go check out the ACE website, where on the home page they are urged to sign a so-called Declaration of Independence from Fossil Fuels:

– “We need 350,000 signatures to present the Declaration to President Obama and key leaders.”

– “Sign the declaration now, and make your voice heard in this movement” (requesting name, email, cell number, zip.)

– “We Implore our Leaders to support the building of a Secure Future, powered by carbon free energy technologies…”

Not only is it frustrating to see students taken away from normal instruction time, considering our constrained budgets, but one wonders what the policy is for allowing outside groups to come to the school and actively enjoin students to take political action. From what I was told by the principal, it appears the policy is: if it’s topical, related to the curriculum, within the budget, and catchy for middle schoolers, you’re in.

The chosen venue of a mandatory school assembly grants it an imprimatur, the legitimacy of authority, under the banner of education. This is at best a thin veneer of “science” over top of a thick wedge of political advocacy, presented as one-sided propaganda. This isn’t education so much as it’s a political pep rally.

Founded by the CEO of a wind energy company, ACE has everything to gain from government legislation in regard to energy production. He’s come up with the idea of a traveling road show (free to the school!) that exhorts children to petition “President Obama and key leaders” to demand action. Very clever — good for him. That our school leaders took him up on his offer, unwittingly or not, allowed him to use our children as his pawns. Bad for us.

If this concerns you as a parent and/or taxpayer, I urge you to contact the Board of Education and/or the superintendent.

Scott Reiss

42 Obtuse Road, Newtown                                     December 16, 2009