Liz Lightfoot
London Telegraph
Tuesday April 17, 2007
Parents who claim that an award-winning film on climate change is inaccurate and politically motivated are threatening a legal challenge over the Government’s decision to send it to every secondary school.
The film by Al Gore, the former US vice-president, won an Oscar for the best documentary this year and Alan Johnson, the Education Secretary, says he wants teachers to use it to stimulate children into discussing climate change and global warming.
But a group of parents in the New Forest say the circulation of the film by the Government amounts to political indoctrination and is in breach of the Education Act 2002. Derek Tipp, their spokesman, has urged Mr Johnson to stop the film being sent out.
He said: “The film goes well beyond the consensus view and is not therefore suitable material to present to children who need to be given clear and balanced, factually accurate information.”