"Since I'm familiar with your stand on the general global warming issue, geoff, I can guess your motive for posting this article: to make a case against alarmism. Even though I'm directly opposed to you about the general topic, I agree about this aspect of it.

However: your use of this particular piece seems just as 'alarmist' on your side of the issue. "

I think it might be a good idea to scare 7 year olds- I don't know but it might be.
I am fairly certain that shocking students does make them more likely to remember something- my anthropologist prof demonstrated by spitting on the blackboard [obviously I still remember this]. I also remember my nightmares regarding nuclear weapons when I was around 5- though I don't remember what I was saw about nuclear weapons which triggered this, but remember the nightmare and "still having it" when I was awake. So, one thing I'm pretty certain of is that these students will remember being terrorized- but I don't know if that is good or not. Though, obviously, at present it could be annoying to the parents.

Scaring children seems to be an old tradition- and broadly done in all cultures. And allowing one's self to me scared is commonly thought to be "childish". These children will eventually realize that their fear was unnecessary.

Scaring children with fantasy might be better than scaring them with something based on reality. That the teachers and others are actually stupid enough to consider this a real threat is also another important aspect to this. The thing I'm slightly curious about is if it's scientifically proven say at some later date that this kind of thing is a significant benefit to children's learning, how could you repeat it- I mean you want the teachers to buy into it [or at least be good actors]. Oh, and I don't think showing typical horror movies gets the same result- though I think horror movies could also have some benefit.

In conclusion I think if Gore's film has any value it's probably most realized by showing it to 7-11 year olds. And of course it's news because Gore's film is being shown to a huge number of children who are 7-11.