Is it illegal to make me watch "An Inconvenient Truth" against my will?

Question

My science teacher made us watch it in school today. I do not like Al Gore as a politician nor as a "global activist", and I especially didn't like the clips of the 2000 presidential election (what does THAT even have to do with global warming? Please tell me!). The Simpsons-esque cartoon was entertaining, but other than that I would have preferred not to watch it. To anyone who has seen An Inconvenient Truth, what did you think of it?

Answer 1

this would fall under the juristiction of your school, you or your parents most likly had to sign a paper in the beggining of the year stating your agrements for thier academic system, which would cover "educational videos" which was no doubt the purpose of watching the film
Just a side not but I hate Algore aswell.

Answer 2

Well I watched it although not against my will, and I was struck with how little it had to do with global warming. Most of the movie (at least half) had nothing to do with global warming. Al Gore would make one claim and then go into a long jeremiad about his campaigns, his son, or any number of random topics. I don't really know what to make of it, although I think those stories are mainly meant to guilt you into submission. The movie was supposed to be the ultimate guide for proving global warming and yet there was only 2 graphs. There weren't even any scientists to back up Al Gore's claims. Gore makes these absurd predictions of flooding and death but fails to give any actual evidence to back those claims up, even the IPCC doesn't agree with Gore's doomsday predictions.
In my opinion you will have to give me a lot more evidence than two graphs presented by some hackneyed politician to make me change the way I live.

Answer 3

As a teacher, I would take the following into consideration:
1) What was the educational purpose for watching the movie?
2) Was the movie related to the current content of the course?
3) Did the movie make you THINK? - This is not to say make you think Al Gore is right, but in general. Did you find yourself thinking about what he said.

In general, i like the movie, but agree with other post that there is a bit much of the Family/Past Political Issues within the movie.

I would also keep the following in mind:
1) According to some guy named Newton - Every action has an equal and opposite reaction.
2) Use this as an opportunity to begin your political activism. Not even to align yourself with a political party, but to begin to determine your core values and how your elected officals represent them.
3) Thinking is not always bad.
4) Disagreeing with another is not always bad, it stimulates debate and encourages creativity.

Good luck with all these answers!

Answer 4

The "Inconvenient Truth" is a theory by some scientists giving their opinion of what may happen to the earth if their theory is correct. I would suggest that you discuss this with your teacher. Ask if any differing theories will be presented on the debate of global warming and the effects humans play in it. Perhaps you can even give that rebuttal to the "science fiction" movie they are making you watch. Their are countless books written by top scientists that show the flows of the global warming as man-made theory.

Answer 5

I don't agree with what a lot of people are telling you. You should feel a little pissed off. I am a college graduate and all of the profs and teachers are mainly liberal. And just because you are still in school does not mean that you cannot have an opinion about something. You have right to think and act as you wish just as any other person in America. All that I ask of anyone is to please do your research before you start ranting on a subject and make yourself look like a total idiot. I will not get technical at all and put this in layman... I think before people start complaining and up-in-arms about a falsified "documentary" they should go do a little research and see what actually backs that documentary. If most of you did not know, the scientific community disproved global warming as an epidemic in 1997 and there are over 17 thousand scientists and theorists on that docket. Also, there were only 19 scientists that stood behind Gore and his absurd comments. The earth goes through natural cycles and these cycles are caused 95% by the earths relation to the sun. Has anyone ever heard about the Ice Age? Gore would probably have said back then that we should use more gas and hairspray to warm the earth up, ha! As a whole, generally speaking the earth has been incrementally increasing for thousands of years in regards to temperature. Also, (little quick fact) one valcanic eruption puts more poisonus gasses into the atmoshpere than the past 30 years of hairspray and automobiles, somehow the earth finds a way to repair itself. Another thing, that I think is ironic, is that Gore jet-sets around the world to any of his favorite 10,000 plus sq. foot (small for one of his houses) (which I am sure the electricity he uses in one day is enough for a normal american to power their house for two weeks to a month) and has the audacity to tell us to turn our lights off and backs that wacko that says we should use one square of toilet paper each time we use the restroom to conserve paper. Yeah, I'll do that crazy S&*T when I find out that Gore is somewhere in the Rocky Mountains living off of good ole' mother earth and wiping himself with a juniper branch.
So in summary- person who asked question - you have a right to feel pissed about having to watch a falsified documentary. Also, global warming is just another thing for the liberals and tree huggers to do with our tax dollars, also quit blaming oil companies for high gas prices - Oil companies make 9-10 cents per gallon of gas sold however, the government taxes are anywhere from 48-52 cents per gallon, so complain to hypocrites like Gore jr. who say stop using extra energy, then take our tax dollars and jet set the world, bad mouthing america to the midle east while he is at it. So quit crying about global warming, go grab a beach towel, go to the beach, enjoy the sun/and life, quit complaining, and let nature run its course! Could go longer but you get the gist! I'm out!

Answer 6

It is not illegal for your teacher to have you watch it since it may be used as an educational source. But, try discussing this matter with your teacher if it bothers you.

Remember, as much as you may not approve of Al Gore, you may want to take in consideration what Al gore has to say. I watched the movie once, and I thought is was very informal for the world because what he tells to people is the truth, and it's inconvenient and its something we all need to try and prevent as much as possible.

Answer 7

I think that if you are particularly bothered by something, then your teacher should give you an alternative assignment. Whether Al Gore is right or wrong, you have the right to believe and view what you wish, and this shouldn't be forced down your throat. :|

It's pretty obvious that the nameless person directly above me didn't even read your actual question, but jumped to conclusions and wanted 2 free points for an irrelevant opinionated answer.

Answer 8

You are a KID in SCHOOL, what the heck could Al Gore or ANY politician have done to YOU to make you say you do not like him/her? Could it be your PARENTS don't like him so you decided YOU don't? just wait---there will come a time when your attitudes will change and may even be different then your parents, but don't dislike someone just because your PARENTS do or SAY TO... make up your OWN MIND based on FACTS, not just what someone SAYS.... also, you were in SCIENCE CLASS. global warming is a SCIENTIFIC ISSUE as well as an ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUE... it was VERY appropriate to view the film in Science class... so there were "CLIPS in it you didn't like" So, aren't there parts of EVERY movie you might not like??? What a critic... That movie is neither DEMOCRAT or REPUBLICAN... it is a statement showing what has been happening to our earth and how it is being affected.... you already saw it so what's the big deal... you take TESTS in science class too----are you going to protest THEM because you don't want to take them????

Answer 9

Sounds like the only "Inconvenient Truth" is that you had to watch a movie a learn something rather than figuring out ways to get on MySpace at school.

"I'm drinking a latte and talking politics in high school and use big words that I looked up the day before, and I waited for the situation to arise when I could use it and seem intelligent on a subject that I really know nothing about. In reality I'm just spewing Bill O'Reilly rhetoric that my parents watch."

Answer 10

people should be tied to a chair ,and have electrodes attached to their brains and be forced to watch environmental awareness videos ,with generous amounts of electric shock treatment when they get negative input ,

personally I believe we should brainwash kids from kinderschool into being respective and responsible about the Environment and Mother Nature ,

If Al Gore movie is the best example,I dont know ,politics are included ,

but there are plenty of other good informative documentaries we can use to program ,and brainwash ,our youth
and yes what they want is not important ,

what will make people behave in a sustainable manner IS,beause our very existance depends on it