Missed opportunity
December 8th, 2006
The debate between Laurie David, one of the producers of An Inconvenient Truth and the National Science Teachers Association continues. Both sides are getting their messages out there, and I urge you to read what they are saying and weigh the merits of their arguments accordingly. Here are some relevant links:
Crooked Curriculum: Oil Company Money Scandal at Nat’l Science Teachers Association Deepens (blog post today by Laurie David)
NSTA Statement on Distribution of “An Inconvenient Truth” (posted on the NSTA website)
The thing about this dispute that is so disappointing is that it was completely avoidable. According to NSTA’s statement, the organization chose not to distribute the offered DVDs because it did not want to violate a 2001 board policy around product endorsement. If this was the primary obstacle, NSTA could have:
- Informed its members of Ms. David’s offer, explained the constraints of the policy in question and provided them with a mechanism for requesting a DVD.
- Sent a letter reminding its financial supporters that the association’s top priority will always be its mission ” … to promote excellence and innovation in science teaching and learning for all,” which is precisely where all supporters should want the organization to place its focus.
- Enlisted the participation of a diverse group of members, i.e., the full spectrum of views on global climate changes as well as diversity along other dimensions, in developing a study guide to enhance the movie’s value as a teaching and learning tool without endorsing its specific arguments, assertions and/or conclusions.
By taking these steps, NSTA could have complied with its policy and provided its members with access to a free and very useful educational resource. It is definitely a missed opportunity and it is hard for me to believe that anyone involved in this situation considers what is going on now to be a preferable outcome.
Entry Filed under: Principled Innovation Blog, What's New?, Social Media, Innovation, Associations, Extreme Makeover, The Association Innovator, We Have Always Done It That Way
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