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In America however, the story is different. �American children take in more popular media than many of their peers world wide, but they often lack the tools to analyze the information,� says a study from Cable in the Classroom. (Rubin, 2002, p.2) Here, the teachers attitude towards media literacy is what decides if it gets taught or not and teachers attitudes are not always positive. Some believe that media education and media literacy is just a way to gain attention from students who�s main interest is TV. Others see it as a way to spend money on fancy equipment and electronic tools for students. While other teachers see it as only job training for students who want a career in TV, and TV production. Renee Hobbs a media literacy expert says that, �In most communities, media literacy exists due to the energy and initiative of a single teacher, not because of a coordinated, community wide, programmatic plan of implementation.� (Hobbs, 1994) Which means that a crucial part of a students education may be, and often is left out. Media education becomes especially important when looking at the statistics, every day 3 million books are taken out of U.S. libraries, while at the same time double that in videos and DVD�s are being rented. Which means that people are getting twice as much information and ideas from media verses from books. It is up to teachers in the U.S. if media literacy is taught and as John Pungente says, �Teacher need to take the initiative in lobbing for it�s inclusion in the curriculum.� (Media Awareness Network, 2003) If it�s not included we may one day wake up and realize that our world has changed because of lack of awareness and we can no longer get it back.
�Media education is not a new subject -- it�s a new way to teach all subjects,� says Tessa Jolls from the Center for Media Literacy. (Minkel, 2002, p.31) Media education may well be the most important idea to come along in education for a long time. Without it can we really function as a well thought out and informed society? Media literacy is a step, even when we know the models we see in magazines have been touched up with a computer to make them appear perfect, we still feel self doubt and wish we were thinner and prettier with better hair and features. Media literacy is a step, a step towards changing media. And, media is what needs to be changed. Knowledge is said to be the key to power. How can students, the future leaders of our country, become powerful people in today�s world if they don�t understand or have a critical knowledge of the media they are viewing every day? The truth is they can�t. Media literate is what we all need to become.
Sources availible upon request e-mail [email protected]
Also please note this is a student site and the student does not claim to be an expert in any of the issues discussed. |
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