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This is a team of students who have
taken on a daunting task. These students
have taken it upon themselves to educate
their fellow students about the manipulation
of our culture by the media.
In the fall of 2002, the five team members
attended the Safe and Drug Free
Schools’ Media Literacy training. The students
attended a full, two-day training. After
attending the training, they were upset,
moved and inspired by what they had
learned.
They were challenged to come
up with a school plan. They planned an
all out attack on media literacy that was
three-fold:
- Inform the staff about the
importance
of Media Literacy Education;
- Create an inspiring 45-minute lesson
plan for students and finally; and
- Teach the Media Literacy Training
themselves as a team.
With the plan in hand, they
went to Principal Georgia Taton to propose
their ideas. She was more than receptive
and put them on the calendar for the following
day’s staff meeting. The students presented
the information and let teachers know
they
were ready to be booked for classes.
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Carrie Sumner, Mears SBPC teacher
"Team members Nicholas Heise, Tori
Hite, Kara McNeal, Megan Morton, and
Jessica Richards taught over a dozen
classes to seventh and eighth graders.
The
staff raved about the classes and the student
participants often stated that they had
learned a great deal from the trainers.
Students are shown a short film to explain
the harm that can come from the impact
of
media, like ads for alcohol and tobacco.
They help kids see the truth about why
you
would not want to buy the product. It’s an
empowering tool for kids. The Media
Literacy Team has gone above and beyond
the call of duty in their quest to help
fellow
students make good choices. They are willing
to stand up and say, ‘Alcohol and
tobacco are not cool. The only reason
some people think that is because the
media tricks us into thinking that.’ The
impact that these students have had on
the
school population and the community is
immeasurable."
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