Bread & Circuses

THE classroom crusade to train little eco-warriors first became apparent to me six years ago when our youngest son, then in the second grade, began scolding the family about mixing paper and plastic, running “unnecessary” errands in the car, and being inadequately concerned about dying species around the globe. Although attending a Catholic school, he was shaky on the cardinal virtues—but he rose up in wrath when he spotted an environmental offense. I was grateful there was no Environmental Bureau handy. We were raising a potential informer.

At age 13 John now enjoys a clearer view—and a different school. But most American schoolchildren are being indoctrinated about our doomed planet and urged to take political action on the basis of faulty science.

About the Author

Kate O'Beirne

THE classroom crusade to train little eco-warriors first became apparent to me six years ago when our youngest son, then in the second grade, began scolding the family about mixing paper and plastic, running “unnecessary” errands in the car, and being inadequately concerned about dying species around the globe. Although attending a Catholic school, he was shaky on the cardinal virtues—but he rose up in wrath when he spotted an environmental offense. I was grateful there was no Environmental Bureau handy. We were raising a potential informer.

At age 13 John now enjoys a clearer view—and a different school. But most American schoolchildren are being indoctrinated about our doomed planet and urged to take political action on the basis of faulty science.