Don’t ban climate science books from Florida’s students

By Charles Dodson, retired Leon Circuit judge

There certainly are books that should not be in children’s libraries. The determination of which books is to an extent dependent upon the age of the child.

But the most important book we are banning from our children, is part of the science book — specifically that part that discusses climate science. Climate change.

Our children have the right to know what is happening to their planet and why. Let them study the science. This is the planet they and their children will be living on.

The overwhelming science confirms that the extreme weather we have seen for years — increasing heat, more intense hurricanes, drought, etc. — is caused by us humans. We can’t keep our heads in the sand. We don’t have the right to hide that science from our children. Why are we so afraid to teach them about it?

Let them decide what they believe on this very important issue. They cannot vote. We are the ones who are supposed to teach and protect them.

Our Florida state government has removed “climate change” from the language of our laws. Where is the science to support that? Let’s not hide this. If there is a valid, evidence-based other side to this issue, let’s put it fairly before our students and let them, in their very capable brains, make their own decisions. Based on the evidence.

Our children have the right to be taught the science about their planet. There are many other very important issues facing our children. But hiding the science about climate change is about the most dangerous thing we can do for our children. They only have one planet.

As parents we have a duty to teach our children. We are supposed to teach them the difference between right and wrong. We are supposed to teach them responsibility and good work habits. We are supposed to teach them to be respectful and kind to others. We are supposed to teach them how to take care of their bodies, how to stay in good health. We must teach them how to take care of their planet.

When I was growing up in the 1960s, cigarette smoking was common. My father started smoking in the early 1940s when he was 14 or 15 years old. When I was growing up, he would smoke two packs of cigarettes per day, as would many of his friends.

During that period science/medical studies revealed the relationship between cigarette smoking and lung cancer. By that time my father and many of his friends were so addicted to cigarettes they wouldn’t or couldn’t quit smoking. Lung cancer, caused by cigarettes, killed my father when he was only 64 years old.

He was the finest man I’ve ever known. In my eyes he could do anything in the world except quit smoking. Our leaders at that time educated us about the dangers of cigarette smoking. Consequently, smoking was greatly reduced and along with that there was a significant reduction in lung cancer.

Our leaders did not have to tell us about that relationship, but they did. That was their job.

Climate change and its effect on our planet is similar. It is causing almost unlivable conditions across much of the planet. The scientists are telling us it is caused by our addiction to fossil fuels. We must quit.  That isn’t easy. But we have that duty to our children, their children, their children and so on.

We have a duty to teach them what is happening to their planet. They deserve to know.

Charles Dodson is a retired Leon Circuit judge. This opinion piece was originally published by the Tallahassee Democrat, which is a media partner of The Invading Sea. 

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