I have to say, I haven't heard much of these "disinformation" statements from high level politicians (i.e., Trump), or the ever-entertaining MTG, trotting out those Jewish space lasers again. Why, oh why, does he say stuff like that? Self serving, I guess. I do have a slightly different take on the Dana Bash/ Lara Trump exchange. I didn't feel that it was so much of an "interview", or attempt to gather opinion and information, as it was a never-ending fact check and gotcha session. First time I've watched it, but I have to say I came away from it with more respect for Lara Trump than I had before. A tad over the top about folks euthanizing their dogs and cats because they can't feed their families, but I guess she was making a point. In a similar vein to JD Vance and the Haitian immigrants eating pets in Ohio. What is it with Republicans and eating small domestic animals? Knock it off! It's giving the more reasonable amongst us a really bad look. Let's all limit our consumption to cows, chicken, and fish and call it a day.
I was extremely interested in your points about digital citizenship but I have to express a disagreement with one of your opinions. I believe you mention that it's primarily conservatives who are having an issue with schools teaching digital literacy because they believe that doing so takes away a parental role. I'm sure there are some knuckle dragging conservatives who share that view, but I am not one of them.
Twelve years ago, before I was a retired educator, I taught media literacy skills through my role as a school library media specialist. I taught lessons on confirmation bias, etc, to students as young as grade 6. I instructed groups in grades 7 and 8 in media literacy units, and for my final year of teaching, I co-taught a course on media literacy with an English teacher to 12th grade students. This had never been done in my district (which you know well) before, and probably since. At the time, this was a new idea in my field, and I felt it was important. Although we had computer science teachers, as far as I know this was new content. No one was teaching manipulating what a student found on a computer--they were teaching how to use a computer--there's a difference. I modified a curriculum very similar to the one referenced in the Fast Company article.
It's all well and good and necessary to teach young minds full of mush (thank you, Rush Limbaugh) when and if and where the information that they've viewing is coming from. But it isn't only the students who need this instruction--it's the teachers as well. In fact, that's even MORE necessary. Here's what happens when an English or Social Studies or even a Science teacher gives an assignment: write an essay about "XYZ". Little Johnny and Sally sit down at the computer and use Google to find articles. The top 3 articles are plagiarized (if they can get away with it) and digested and rehashed into a format that the teacher will find acceptable. Unless there's a librarian involved leading students to reliable sources like databases, this is the quality of the work that has frequently been accepted in American high schools. Perhaps things have changed for the better since my departure from the educational scene, but I'm not hopeful about that. Too many teachers are intellectually lazy. (Wow--harsh!!) It is difficult to teach students how to dissect and analyze where their information is coming from and who has an axe to grind in presenting it to you. It takes constant work, every single assignment. Most teachers don't have the energy or ability to do that. It's too bad that instead of letting librarians help them out, most teachers and administrators think that the only good librarian is one who is stamping out books and running a study hall.
Thanks Sharon for that thoughtful comment and for sharing your experiences on the subject as a school library media specialist. Two things:
I think when a journalist interviews people who insist on spreading misinformation, it can come across at a gotcha moment when they are challenged. It can feel adversarial. Moreover, why so many people continue to traffic in this kind of garbage is beyond me. I can only conclude they're convinced there is no price to pay for doing so, and that indeed it is to their advantage to continue.
As for media literacy. I was careful to note that "Some observers, mostly conservatives," are skeptical of media literacy efforts because of the potential for bias. As you clearly attest here, not all conservatives share this view, and we can be thankful for that. But it could still prove an obstacle in some states and individual school districts.
Your point about the necessity of media literacy skills among teachers as well is spot on. I hope ML becomes mandatory study for those interested in obtaining teaching licenses in all 50 states.
And yes, I've heard all the stories about classroom teachers who have very little respect for what school librarians do. It is, in a word, "deplorable."
(At least) one thing that I learned over my years of teaching in public schools is that everyone in the schoolhouse (a former admin's fave word) does have a role to play in the education of a child. I may not understand what you do, but I can help you get the resources you need to do your job. ML fits in perfectly in this scenario: I did not teach English, Social Studies, or Science, but I knew how to construct an assignment that would minimize plagiarism and lead students to a variety of sources.
I agree with your comments about knowingly spreading mis-, dis,-and otherwise false information. I have no idea why they do it either. They do get caught up on it. But how about this: when politicians (I'm looking at you, Kamala) are asked a direct question, why can't they answer it? Bill Whitaker's interview with her on 60 Minutes is a great example. He asked about immigration and why it took so long for the Biden-Harris administration to do anything about it, and her answer was a mumbo-jumbo feel good word salad about "consensus". He kept trying to press her, to his credit, but she's the Artful Dodger. No one still knows the answer to that one.
We've recently returned from a trip abroad and had the experience of watching British news. The PM's Chief of Staff resigned, and the talking head was all over somebody to explain why. This person gave some non-answers, but the interviewer wouldn't give up. You wouldn't see that here.
I have to say, I haven't heard much of these "disinformation" statements from high level politicians (i.e., Trump), or the ever-entertaining MTG, trotting out those Jewish space lasers again. Why, oh why, does he say stuff like that? Self serving, I guess. I do have a slightly different take on the Dana Bash/ Lara Trump exchange. I didn't feel that it was so much of an "interview", or attempt to gather opinion and information, as it was a never-ending fact check and gotcha session. First time I've watched it, but I have to say I came away from it with more respect for Lara Trump than I had before. A tad over the top about folks euthanizing their dogs and cats because they can't feed their families, but I guess she was making a point. In a similar vein to JD Vance and the Haitian immigrants eating pets in Ohio. What is it with Republicans and eating small domestic animals? Knock it off! It's giving the more reasonable amongst us a really bad look. Let's all limit our consumption to cows, chicken, and fish and call it a day.
I was extremely interested in your points about digital citizenship but I have to express a disagreement with one of your opinions. I believe you mention that it's primarily conservatives who are having an issue with schools teaching digital literacy because they believe that doing so takes away a parental role. I'm sure there are some knuckle dragging conservatives who share that view, but I am not one of them.
Twelve years ago, before I was a retired educator, I taught media literacy skills through my role as a school library media specialist. I taught lessons on confirmation bias, etc, to students as young as grade 6. I instructed groups in grades 7 and 8 in media literacy units, and for my final year of teaching, I co-taught a course on media literacy with an English teacher to 12th grade students. This had never been done in my district (which you know well) before, and probably since. At the time, this was a new idea in my field, and I felt it was important. Although we had computer science teachers, as far as I know this was new content. No one was teaching manipulating what a student found on a computer--they were teaching how to use a computer--there's a difference. I modified a curriculum very similar to the one referenced in the Fast Company article.
It's all well and good and necessary to teach young minds full of mush (thank you, Rush Limbaugh) when and if and where the information that they've viewing is coming from. But it isn't only the students who need this instruction--it's the teachers as well. In fact, that's even MORE necessary. Here's what happens when an English or Social Studies or even a Science teacher gives an assignment: write an essay about "XYZ". Little Johnny and Sally sit down at the computer and use Google to find articles. The top 3 articles are plagiarized (if they can get away with it) and digested and rehashed into a format that the teacher will find acceptable. Unless there's a librarian involved leading students to reliable sources like databases, this is the quality of the work that has frequently been accepted in American high schools. Perhaps things have changed for the better since my departure from the educational scene, but I'm not hopeful about that. Too many teachers are intellectually lazy. (Wow--harsh!!) It is difficult to teach students how to dissect and analyze where their information is coming from and who has an axe to grind in presenting it to you. It takes constant work, every single assignment. Most teachers don't have the energy or ability to do that. It's too bad that instead of letting librarians help them out, most teachers and administrators think that the only good librarian is one who is stamping out books and running a study hall.
I will get down off my soap box now.
Thanks Sharon for that thoughtful comment and for sharing your experiences on the subject as a school library media specialist. Two things:
I think when a journalist interviews people who insist on spreading misinformation, it can come across at a gotcha moment when they are challenged. It can feel adversarial. Moreover, why so many people continue to traffic in this kind of garbage is beyond me. I can only conclude they're convinced there is no price to pay for doing so, and that indeed it is to their advantage to continue.
As for media literacy. I was careful to note that "Some observers, mostly conservatives," are skeptical of media literacy efforts because of the potential for bias. As you clearly attest here, not all conservatives share this view, and we can be thankful for that. But it could still prove an obstacle in some states and individual school districts.
Your point about the necessity of media literacy skills among teachers as well is spot on. I hope ML becomes mandatory study for those interested in obtaining teaching licenses in all 50 states.
And yes, I've heard all the stories about classroom teachers who have very little respect for what school librarians do. It is, in a word, "deplorable."
(At least) one thing that I learned over my years of teaching in public schools is that everyone in the schoolhouse (a former admin's fave word) does have a role to play in the education of a child. I may not understand what you do, but I can help you get the resources you need to do your job. ML fits in perfectly in this scenario: I did not teach English, Social Studies, or Science, but I knew how to construct an assignment that would minimize plagiarism and lead students to a variety of sources.
I agree with your comments about knowingly spreading mis-, dis,-and otherwise false information. I have no idea why they do it either. They do get caught up on it. But how about this: when politicians (I'm looking at you, Kamala) are asked a direct question, why can't they answer it? Bill Whitaker's interview with her on 60 Minutes is a great example. He asked about immigration and why it took so long for the Biden-Harris administration to do anything about it, and her answer was a mumbo-jumbo feel good word salad about "consensus". He kept trying to press her, to his credit, but she's the Artful Dodger. No one still knows the answer to that one.
We've recently returned from a trip abroad and had the experience of watching British news. The PM's Chief of Staff resigned, and the talking head was all over somebody to explain why. This person gave some non-answers, but the interviewer wouldn't give up. You wouldn't see that here.