Legal battle on Gore climate film
September 27, 2007
A parent is urging a judge to reconsider a ruling that the government did not break the law when it sent schools copies of a film by Al Gore.
Stuart Dimmock, a father from Kent and a member of the New Party, is at London's High Court.
In late July, a judge there ruled that the decision to send the climate change film "An Inconvenient Truth" to England's secondary schools was lawful.
Mr Dimmock had argued that circulating the film amounted to indoctrination.
But the judge, Mr Justice Beatson, ruled: "The fact that the presenter is a public figure and active in US politics does not arguably make the film as a whole one of political indoctrination.
"Nor does the showing [of] it in an educational context as a supplement to other teaching methods, and accompanied by suitable reservations and indications as to what is political and controversial, arguably the 'promotion' of partisan political views."
Political issues
Schools are being sent a copy of the film by the former US vice-president for use in science, geography or citizenship lessons.
It is part of a package of resources being sent to schools. In his original ruling in late July, the judge said the guidance had been put together by an expert panel.
He said it reminded teachers of their statutory duties, "including the need to take such steps as are practicable to ensure that pupils are offered a balanced presentation of opposing views in respect of parts of the film that raise political issues".
Mr Dimmock is at the High Court to ask the judge to reconsider his decision to dismiss the case.
He said: "I wish my children to have the best education possible, free from bias and political spin, and Mr Gore's film falls far short of the standard required.
"Climate change is important, but it should be taught to children in a neutral and measured manner. Indoctrinating school children in this manner is unprecedented and unacceptable."
At the time when the scheme was announced, earlier this year, the schools minister Jim Knight said climate change was one of the most important challenges facing the earth.
Resources being sent to schools would help to give young people information and inspiration to understand and debate the issues around climate change, he said.
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