Courtesy of JoNova:

Michael Kundu, Board President of Marysville (Washington State, USA) District #25 has written to colleagues to urge them to trash a free science resource that discusses logic, reason and evidence, and the core of science. The Skeptics Handbook has arrived at school board presidents’ desks around the US.

“I would encourage all of you to stuff that junk mail directly into the recycle basket.”

In a spot of unwitting self-parody he states:

“…we need to have the ability to tell fact from fiction.  This last mailing is an excellent example of ‘fiction’.”

Thus Michael Kundu, whale photographer, pronounces the data from NASA, Hadley, UAH, CSSP, IPPC, as fiction.

There is a great deal more background at the link, including an interesting exchange between a Marysville resident, and Mr. Kunda, in the Comments.

This is the same Micheal Kunda, who, as Marysville SB President, wrote a commentary peice in the Everett Herald about Science Education:

While NASA and the ESA enjoy excellent working relationships, the ESA is increasingly seeking more qualified science and technology graduates from Europe and Asia. There’s no prejudice involved (American researchers are part of the LHC project); it’s simply because the number of qualified American science and technology graduates is declining. Even today, NASA reports that about 80 percent of its new hires were educated in foreign institutions.

This spring, U.S. Chamber of Commerce studies reported that American universities generate only 225,000 graduates annually in the STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) fields. Microsoft says it is finding it increasingly difficult to attract qualified U.S. engineers, and this July, the National Research Council (a congressionally chartered policy advice group) released a dire report, calling for more legislative support to promote degrees in fields like biology and chemistry.

I agree completely with Mr. Kunda’s commentary, and I certainly suggest that everyone read it.  If that was the ONLY information I had read concerning Mr. Kunda’s attitudes about Science, I would have voted for him too.

But for someone who, on the one hand, calls for more Science (and related fields) education in the United State, then, on the other hand, simply dismisses out of hand, with no rational reasoning, data that conflicts with his preconceived notions, he contradicts himself.  What concerns me even more, beyond his summary dismissal of arguments and data against Man-Made Global Warming, is his utter unwillingness to give any data or arguments to support his position.  And on the gripping hand, the most disturbing thing of all is his use of Wikipedia as an authoritative source for an attack on the organization that printed the book in question; and this statement:

As board members, one of our main priorities should be to promote the use of accurate, legitimately scientifically-based information in our schools. We’ve seen the efforts by radical creationists, anti-evolution activists, anti-union, white separatist and other fringe groups to subversively infiltrate public education – this mailing from the Heartland Institute is on a similar level.

So, being Anti-Union is now equivalent to being a White Separatist?  Being skeptical of Man Made Global Warming is equivalent to being Creationist and Anti-Evolution?

As to his statement that:

Each of us has an obligation to try and improve the academic environment for our students – we need to have the ability to tell fact from fiction.  This last mailing is an excellent example of ‘fiction’.

I wonder how many time Al Gore’s money making scheme, and widely discredited, “An Inconvenient Truth”, has been shown in the Marysville SD, with Mr. Kunda’s blessing.

I submit that Mr. Kunda’s attitutde about global warming is no less a matter of faith than the people he seeks to demean in his screed.

I suggest reading the email chain between Mr. Kunda, and people involved with the book, here.

Also, you can read the Skeptic’s Handbook here.  It is, from my reading, simply questioning foundaiton of Man Made Global Warming (i.e., CO2), NOT that Climate Change is a real and present process.  Only the most closed minded and parochial would suggest that Climate Change does not occur.  Climate Change has been around since the earth cooled enough to actually HAVE a climate, billions of years ago.  Cliamte Change will be around, long after man has passed on…