Coal coloring book teaches kids all about dirty energy 8

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1. 

   solarkismet Posted 1:17 pm
   19 Aug 2009

   The State of Illinois sponsors a coal calendar and essay contest for kids every year:http://www.commerce.state.il.us/dceo/Bureaus/Coal/Education/coal+calendar+contest.htm Winning Posters:http://www.commerce.state.il.us/NR/rdonlyres/2DB82D3A-10A3-4366-A7C4-1F2E7CACD80A/0/2009COALCALENDARPOSTERS.pdf Winning Essays:http://www.commerce.state.il.us/NR/rdonlyres/84AF1B6E-A2F2-495B-9ED3-9AF6931C553D/0/2009CalWinningessays.pdf 

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      Fenrir Posted 7:41 am
      20 Aug 2009

      That is really impressive and sad at the same time. There was actually a winning poster with a drawn globe that reflected a serious misconcenception - apart from the apparent benefits of coal - in clearly and physically dividing North and South America! The kid even made Mexico disappear! Education is truly a force to be reckoned with. The idea that America is split in two might lead children to further misconceptions and supporting hard-line politicies.

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   Polardiscoball Posted 10:34 am
   20 Aug 2009

   I don't like his eyes he look shifty. There is a little info missing on the leveling of mountain tops and the polluting of watersheds.People with skin, kidney and liver ailments are not covered here but I guess nobody thinks about when they flick on a switch to watch reality TV.

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3. 

   A Spencer Posted 10:46 am
   20 Aug 2009

   Do you know how companies get kids on board -- what they call "lifetime customers"? They used cartoon characters that appeal directly to kids. Ronald McDonald and Joe Camel immediately come to mind, I'm sure there are others. This is disgusting.
   Just skimmed the essays and looked at the posters from Illinois. The essays sound like talking points that a coal company executive would say to kids, and just regurgitated; but it's the posters that really sting. I just hope this isn't something that makes it into the public schools. I think I'd feel sick to my stomach if I knew my kid was spending school time drawing pictures about how great electricity is, and therefore how great coal is. Illinois parents should speak up!
   I also took it upon myself to write a nasty email to the government contact on the Illinois coal website.

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4. 

   solarkismet Posted 10:49 am
   20 Aug 2009

   I'm not sure "nasty" is synonomous with receptivity to your thoughts; more likely the delete key.

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      A Spencer Posted 10:55 am
      20 Aug 2009

      well, maybe not "nasty." the message was short and sweet enough that they'll most likely get to the punchline: "Shame on you."

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   lilacwine Posted 6:41 pm
   20 Aug 2009

   I teach science at a public middle school in Illinois and I have been receiving the "Illinois Coal is our Hero" calendars for years.  I do not know how I got on the mailing list, but the first year I actually cried when I saw it.  To think there are students out there who are being taught that "coal is the answer to all our energy needs" makes me worry about the miseducation of a whole generation of young people.I am grateful to teach in a school that allows me some professional freedom to focus on a climate-change based curriculum.  However, I needed to invent this curriculum; our middle school text books do not contain current environmental information (although they are from 2002.  Hopefully newer ones reflect more current information.)If you are a teacher and you need curriculum ideas, I learned about this site last year.  They have some curriculum for sale, but a lot of it is free.  http://www.facingthefuture.org/Curriculum/CurriculumHome/tabid/113/Default.aspx 

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      Jonathan Hiskes Posted 11:14 am
      21 Aug 2009

      Great thoughts. They're highlighted here.

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