Rationale for continuing media studies in District 112

Chaska+High+School+currently+offers+several+individual+courses+in+the+field+of+Media+Studies+within+the+English+department%3A+Introduction+to+Print+and+Broadcast+Journalism%2C+Newspaper%2C+TV+Broadcast%2C+and+Media+Studies.+Additionally%2C+all+levels+of+English+courses+at+the+secondary+level+feature+a+section+devoted+to+media+literacy+in+their+course+standards.+Clearly%2C+media+literacy+has+been%2C+is%2C+and+should+continue+to+be+valued+by+this+district+and+community.%0D%0A%0D%0AIn+their+recently+published+plan+%3Ca+href%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.chaska.k12.mn.us%2Fpdfs%2Fsecondary_redesign.pdf%22%3E%3Cspan+style%3D%22font-style%3A+italic%3B%22%3EEach+Learner+Prepared+for+Success%3A+District+112+Educational+Plan+for+Learning+and+Success+in+the+21st+Century%3C%2Fspan%3E%3C%2Fa%3E%2C+the+secondary+re-design+team+for+District+112+laid+out+its+goals+and+dreams+for+the+district.+As+Superintendent+David+Jennings+says%2C+%3Cblockquote%3E%E2%80%9CEducation+today+is+about+helping+kids+think+critically+and+make+good+decisions%2C+about+helping+them+understand+their+world+and+its+cultures%2C+about+helping+them+embrace+technology+and+understand+both+its+strength+and+its+limitations%2C+about+helping+them+understand+the+difference+between+information+and+knowledge%2C+and+about+giving+them+the+self+confidence+and+skills+to+be+successful.%E2%80%9D%3C%2Fblockquote%3E+The+design+document+then+goes+on+to+lay+out+specific+goals+for+all+secondary+learners%2C+including+a+goal+that+all+graduates+will+be+%E2%80%9Cfluent+users+of+technology+and+information+with+skills+in%3A+reading+and+media+literacy%2C+responsible+use+of+technology+and+information%2C+technology+use%2C+%5Band%5D+the+research+process.%E2%80%9D+Given+this+proclaimed+interest+in+preparing+learners+for+the+21st+century%2C+it+would+seem+hypocritical+and+backward+to+turn+around+and+declare+that+media+studies+aren%E2%80%99t+a+necessary+and+highly+valuable+part+of+the+curriculum.%0D%0A%0D%0ADistrict+112+should+continue+to+include+media+studies+as+part+of+the+curriculum+because+media+studies+provide+students+with+real%2C+relevant+opportunities+to+engage+in+critical+thinking+and+inquiry%2C+collaboration+and+creation%2C+and+the+construction+of+their+own+knowledge.++According+to+Richard+Beach%2C+professor+of+English+Education+at+the+University+of+Minnesota%2C+%E2%80%9Cthe+marginalization+of+media+in+the+curriculum+ignores+the+centrality+of+media+in+our+lives%E2%80%9D+%28Beach%2C+2007%29.+Our+students+live+in+a+world+saturated+by+media%3A+they+watch+%3Ca+href%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FJersey_Shore_%2528TV_series%2529%22%3E%3Cspan+style%3D%22font-style%3A+italic%3B%22%3Proxy-Connection: keep-alive
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ersey+Shore%3C%2Fspan%3E%3C%2Fa%3E%2C+text+their+friends+about+what+they+saw%2C+check+Facebook+to+see+what+their+friends+are+doing%2C+zoom+over+to+YouTube+to+check+out+a+video+recommended+by+a+friend%2C+all+while+that+ubiquitous+white+earphone+wire+dangles+down+their+shirt+fronts.+Given+the+constant+presence+of+media+in+their+lives%2C+students+need+to+be+prepared+to+sort+out+and+truly+read+all+the+messages+that+are+rushing+at+them+on+a+daily+basis.+Media+studies+can+help+them+do+this.+Let%E2%80%99s+take+%3Cspan+style%3D%22font-style%3A+italic%3B%22%3EJersey+Shore%3C%2Fspan%3E+as+an+example.+If+you+are+unfamiliar+with+the+show%2C+it+is+an+MTV+reality+show+featuring+a+group+of+Italian-American+young+people+living+on+the+Jersey+Shore.+The+show+is+full+of+stereotypes+that+are+demeaning+to+men%2C+women%2C+young+people%2C+and+ethnic+groups+alike.+That+being+said%2C+the+show+is+still+wildly+popular.+%3Cspan+style%3D%22font-style%3A+italic%3B%22%3EJersey+Shore%3C%2Fspan%3E+has+spawned+catch+phrases%2C+hairstyles%2C+and+dance+moves%2C+and+the+young+stars+of+the+show+recently+re-negotiated+their+contracts+with+MTV+to+receive+%2410%2C000+an+episode+for+their+second+season.+In+a+curriculum+featuring+media+studies%2C+a+teacher+could+take+this+highly+popular+show+and+use+it+as+a+modern%2C+relevant+media+text.+The+teacher+and+students+could+employ+their+critical+thinking+skills+to+examine+what+this+show+is%2C+how+and+why+it+is+constructed+the+way+it+is%2C+and+the+underlying+assumptions%2C+attitudes%2C+and+prejudices+promoted+by+the+show.+Then%2C+the+teacher+could+offer+a+critical+inquiry+project+where+students+examine+how+prejudices+and+stereotypes+are+perpetuated+by+reality+TV+shows+like+%3Cspan+style%3D%22font-style%3A+italic%3B%22%3EJersey+Shore%3C%2Fspan%3E.+The+students+could+foster+their+critical+thinking+and+research+skills+by+researching+how+reality+shows+work%2C+who+controls+them%2C+and+what+those+in+control+have+at+stake%2C+among+other+things.+Students+could+then+collaborate+in+small+groups+or+as+a+class+to+formulate+alternatives+to+what+is+currently+being+offered+in+the+reality+TV+genre.+They+could+create+blogs%2C+wikis%2C+or+websites+to+share+their+information+and+invite+the+public+to+check+out+their+work+and+possibly+sign+a+petition+the+students+created+to+send+to+the+heads+of+several+media+conglomerates.+The+possibilities+are+endless%2C+rewarding%2C+and+incredibly+enriching.%0D%0A%0D%0AMaintaining+our+commitment+to+media+studies+in+our+curriculum+is+absolutely+vital+to+the+success+of+our+children.+By+teaching+them+to+be+critical+consumers+and+producers+of+media+texts%2C+we+are+creating+constructive%2C+intelligent+citizens+of+the+world.+As+Pat+Kipping+reminds+us%2C+%E2%80%9CMedia+literate+people+know+how+to+act%2C+rather+than+being+acted+upon.+In+this+way%2C+media+literate+people+are+better+citizens.%E2%80%9D+Let%E2%80%99s+re-commit+to+making+our+students+better+citizens+of+the+world.%0D%0A%0D%0A%0D%0ABeach%2C+R.+%282007%29.+Teachingmedialiteracy.com%3A+a+web-linked+guide+to+resources+and+activities.++++++%0D%0A+++++++++New+York%2C+NY%3A+Teachers+College+Press