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Demotion has kids seeking an exception

Some Safety Harbor students want the International Astronomical Union to give poor Pluto a break.

By JARED LEONE
Published August 29, 2006

SAFETY HARBOR - Pam Bryant's earth science class wants a reprieve for Pluto.

Pluto, classified as a planet since its discovery in 1930, was demoted Thursday when astronomers changed their definition of what constitutes a planet.

"The kids did want to contact the International Astronomical Union. Some of them want to write a letter to them," said Bryant, who teaches at Safety Harbor Middle School. "And they wanted to know how they could grant Pluto an exception."

The International Astronomical Union defines a planet as a celestial body that orbits the sun, has sufficient mass to become round and has "cleared the neighborhood around its orbit."

Pluto was disqualified because its oblong orbit overlaps with Neptune's.

Pluto is now a "dwarf planet."

Bryant, who has taught at the school for 20 years, took the event as an opportunity to discuss the solar system with her students Friday.

"It was a good lesson because it showed that science is always changing," Bryant said. "They were upset that their brand-new books were going to be wrong."

Other classroom materials, such as Bryant's map of the solar system, also will need revamping.

Bryant said her students were worried that the new designation might take time to sink in before the next test.

"Some of the students asked, 'If you put Pluto in, will you count it wrong?' " Bryant said. "I said no."

What will Bryant do with her traditional, Pluto-included map of the solar system?

"I will still leave it up," she said.

[Last modified August 29, 2006, 07:03:04]