Another country is looking into whether or not Al Gore's schlockumentary "An Inconvenient Truth" should carry a warning before it is shown in public schools.
In October 2007, a British judge ruled that there were so many material falsehood's in the film that they had to be disclosed to students before it was aired.
Now, a petition is being distributed in New Zealand for similar provisions to be implemented.
As New Zealand's National Business Review reported Wednesday:
Politicians have been asked to consider whether New Zealand's students are protected from political indoctrination in schools after the showing of Al Gore's film An Inconvenient Truth prompted a petition to Parliament.
The petition of former ACT MP Muriel Newman asked that New Zealand school children be protected from political indoctrination by inserting into the Education Act provisions similar to those in the British act.
The petition was signed by 250 people.
Dr Newman said concerned parents contacted her after An Inconvenient Truth was shown in schools in 2007.
They were concerned that teachers were not pointing out inaccuracies in the film and were not explaining that there were alternative viewpoints.
"As a result parents were concerned that their children were being subjected to political propaganda at school," she said. [...]
Parliament's education select committee will now consider the petition.
As NewsBusters reported in 2007:
In order for the film to be shown [in England], the Government must first amend their Guidance Notes to Teachers to make clear that 1.) The Film is a political work and promotes only one side of the argument. 2.) If teachers present the Film without making this plain they may be in breach of section 406 of the Education Act 1996 and guilty of political indoctrination. 3.) Eleven inaccuracies have to be specifically drawn to the attention of school children.
How will New Zealand's parliament rule?
Stay tuned.
