Long Island Teacher Advocates For Media Literacy In NY Schools

HICKSVILLE, NY —A group of educators wants to see all New York State public school students receive formal education in an area that they feel is highly neglected and crucial in children's lives: media literacy. A group called Media Literacy Now is pushing for statewide legislation that will introduce formal education, resources and professional development for teachers in media literacy.

Jaclyn Kahn Siegel is a Hicksville resident who is the New York chapter leader for the group and she tells Patch that she sees this need firsthand as a history and special education teacher.

"The amount of media and technology kids are encountering every day is insane."

The educators behind Media Literacy Now believe that the teaching of literacy in schools in 2021 goes hand in hand with teaching media literacy.

"Our children live in a world of powerful 24/7 media. There has been a drastic increase in the amount of time children and youth are spending with media over the last decade. Children ages eight to 18 now spend an average of seven hours and 38 minutes per day with entertainment media outside of school, according to recent research."

"Used well, the media can entertain and inform our children in positive ways. However, since most children aren’t taught to use media thoughtfully, many media messages contribute to public health issues such as obesity, bullying and aggression, low self-esteem, depression, negative body image, risky sexual behavior, and substance abuse, among other problems."

"Media Literacy education—which teaches students to apply critical thinking to media messages and to use media to create their own messages – is a key 21st-century skill. Media Literacy is critical to the health and well-being of America’s children, as well as to their future participation in the civic and economic life of our democracy."

Siegel became interested in this issue when she did her graduate thesis on how television can help children learn to read. She says in 2009 few people were interested in the issue of media literacy, but after the recent rise of the concept of "fake news" during the past two election cycles and the rise of false information during the pandemic, more people are becoming aware of the necessity for media literacy.

"It is so prevalent in our kids lives. Kids are being advertised to," she reflected.

The bills call for statewide standards in media literacy education, the creation of a media advisory group to guide public schools, a media library specialist in every district, and professional development for teachers. Down the line, Kahn would like to see an entire elective course for high schoolers on media literacy.

"This is a first step for New York," she said. Several states have legislation in place guiding media literacy in public schools but New York currently has none.

The bills — the latest is sponsored by Manhattan New York Assembly member Linda Rosenthal and was referred to the education committee in January —were carefully crafted to be nonpartisan, Kahn says.

What do you think? Do children need formal education on how to be media literate in school? Tell us your thoughts in the comments.