I didn't read the original article and comments, and now that I have I want that 10 minutes of my life back. Knees jerking all over the place. You know, I don't understand why the PPH allows unmoderated online comments - you generally don't see other newspapers that don't at least cut out some of the egregious comments. You must realize these commenters don't limit their screed to articles about the environment. There's a regular cast of characters who chime in on any issue that can be the least bit provocative. What really got to me was when I opened Maine Sunday Telegram yesterday to find some of these goofballs legitimized by having their online comments printed in the dead tree version of the newspaper.

In the end, it isn't about free speech, it's about editing and enforcing some common sense rules online.

Right. These 4th graders are all experts in the "science of "global warming". When will they bring peace to the mid-east?

Sorry, Paul, but in the end it is all about freedom of speech. It is a messy business, I agree, just as democracy is, but I prefer it over the utopian society where speech is as regulated as the trains which run on time.

I've often found it an oddity that freedom of speech, the holy grail of the left, is often assailed by those very same people whenever any sentiment is expressed that doesn't lock-step with their sensibilities. If PPH is going to print up opinions of a controversial nature, then who is going to decide how the arguments shall ensue, and what uproar would there be if PPH was owned by a Conservative who edited or rejected all the liberal "screed" in order to better promote one agenda. That is unfair and unbalanced.

The fourth graders are merely mouthing the indoctrination they received at the hads of some very lousy teachers. Drudge pasted it on his site in order to, once again, ridicule Mainers for their stupidity.

Dick,
The thing that is insane is how EVERYONE knows that these kids are just parroting some religious doctrine from their "lousy" teachers. Maybe they actually learned something and used the article as an avenue to display that learning....I know this is a shocking revelation but that is what school is about....some of you need to go back obviously

Thank you, teach, for demonstrating my point about liberal idiots being intolerant of any dissent.

I was nice. I made cogent arguments, and I get insulted along with anyone else who disagrees. Well, I guess if you can be lectured on a scientific theory by 8 and 9 year-olds, then I guess that only proves that you're a frickin' moron. Good grief! I hope they don't believe in Santa or you'll be sorry you insulted me! That's right....coal in your stocking, pal.

Yeah, these kids went out and did scientific research, right? Yeah, these kids went out and read BOTH sides of the argument. Yeah, these kids, who are apparently smarter than college educated people who disagree, determined what the truth was and now we are supposed to listen to their wisdom.

PULEEZE!

If the town drunk was raving about how liberals are the bane of society, I would never deign to dress him up as a saint and parade him around as a sage. Idiot liberal environmental whack-jobs tree-hugging idiots apparently don't have that problem.

There. That's the not-nice me after being insulted. I can go both ways.

The tragic thing about this whole situation is the students who should be proud of what they had produced as a well-written OPINION piece are being exposed to the hate and vitriolic nature of those who don't like the topic. Can't see where you were insulted...the comment about going to school applied to many of the commentors

PS...the conservative right doesn't like those who goes both ways.

"...that is what school is about....some of you need to go back obviously."

Uh, that's an insult, Teach, and it does not seem plausible that these kids would happen upon forming an opinion like this without some indoctrination by the teacher. If it walks like a duck....

It is also unfortunate, in my opinion, for schools to begin forming the opinions of their young charges in matters that pertain more to politics (yes, this is a political issue when liberals believe in the global warming alarmism and Conservatives do not, deny it all you want) than to the three Rs. Fourth graders should be learning how to spell, not to orate and join in the forming of public opinion.

Liberals, like terrorists like to shoot from behind the skirts of women and innocents, hence the absolute glee that an unassailable voice for Global Warming Extremism should come their way. You can sit back and DARE us to tell these kids that they're wrong. Nice. Cowardly. Typical.

Kids, we're sorry that your teacher is a political operative and hack, and sucks as a teacher. He/she obviously cares more for using you as a weapon in their agenda than for truly developing your minds independent of prevailing political thought. Perhaps there will be better teachers along the way who will teach you HOW to think instead of WHAT to think.

As a member of the IEEE Pre-College Education Committee and as Education Chair on Maine's Engineering Promotion Council (hosting Maine's annual E-Week Celebration), I have had the unique privilege of working with Jacob Austin in one of my Pre-Engineering classes at the Fiddlehead Center in Gray.

For his age, Jacob is extremely mature, and as any young man, he's extremely inquisitive. Our class is built on the premise that All Kids Are Engineers (practitioners of ingenuity) and we open-mindedly explore any and every new idea for its strengths and weaknesses. Jacob was a major contributor, as were the other students in his class, and he raised 'zillions' of intelligent and insightful questions. At home, he lives with a family of scientists who would likely discuss the chemistry of our environment at the dinner table.

I have no doubt at all that Jacob and his fellow students did a good job of looking into all sides of the issue before reaching their own conclusions and writing them down.

As an engineer, Jacob knows the impact we engineers - worldwide - have on the way things work, and he appreciates our professional concern for protecting our neighbors from harm. Engineers everywhere are working every day to reduce the impact of human behavior on the environment that supports us. We thank Jacob and his friends for taking the matter seriously, and we look forward to having him join us in the years to come.

Pete Mickelson
Education Chairman
Maine Engineering Promotion Council

policy research?

Until we get to review the reading list and whether it objectively includes scientists who are skeptical of current global warming theories; this is going to go down as yet another opinion orchestrated by a zealot/teacher...I suspect that the hand of AL GORE may have even ghosted the rather well written article---9 year olds can write that well...amazing!

Kids can do their research at their school....a history of snow days, weather related health problems, clothing trends, etc.

Now that would be bringing global warming home and worthy of national attention!

I searched for FIDDLEHEAD center for engineers in Gray; but only found the FIDDLEHEAD center for the ARTS.

Could it be that it's artists and craftspeople, and not scientists who are propagating global warming theories among young people?

...or perhaps the poster is taking their class on IMPROV. comedy and pulling our legs?