Illinois became the first state to ban the removal of books from school and public libraries this summer. But in Missouri, school officials are taking titles off of the shelves now more than ever. The actions from the neighboring states illustrate the increasing power of organized activists and politicians to implement broad legislation. In some cases, it takes only a lone, … [Read more...] about News Analysis: Illinois protects library books; Missouri removes them
Illinois
A student reporter gets the first look at Illinois’ struggling media literacy law
Illinois enacted the nation’s first public school media literacy law just shy of two years ago. Since then the press has mostly ignored it, teachers have struggled to figure out what it requires, educators have received little training and no one is checking to see if students are learning to be more media literate. I’m the first journalist who has deeply looked into … [Read more...] about A student reporter gets the first look at Illinois’ struggling media literacy law
After COVID-19, media literacy was on a ‘back burner’
Teachers came out of the COVID-19 pandemic, then they heard about the Illinois’ media literacy requirement. Raquel Bliffen, an English teacher at Mt. Vernon Township High School, said her reaction to the new requirement may have been tainted by her whole mindset since COVID-19, which is “kind of like one more thing.” “I kind of felt a little burnt out at that … [Read more...] about After COVID-19, media literacy was on a ‘back burner’
‘Remember the Ladies’
When the great-grandmothers of today’s young women were born, women couldn’t vote. They were expected to be mothers and homemakers. When the grandmothers of today’s young women were born, women had no legal protections against discrimination in education, jobs or credit. The Supreme Court said “Equal Protection” in the 14th Amendment didn’t include women. When the mothers … [Read more...] about ‘Remember the Ladies’
Illinois’ pioneering media literacy program lacks resources, oversight
In the year since Illinois’ pioneering media literacy requirement went into effect, experts, teachers and the state have scrambled to define what media literacy means and how to implement the new law without additional funding, professional development or clear standards. Illinois became the first state in the nation to require instruction of media literacy at the … [Read more...] about Illinois’ pioneering media literacy program lacks resources, oversight