Who Needs Media Studies Anyway?

To the School Board of Minneapolis Public Schools:

Recently, in many school districts we have seen a drive towards a "back to basics" curriculum. Regardless of your politics or views on high stakes testing, after No Child Left Behind, high stakes testing is a reality we have to deal with in the classroom and a focus on the "basics" is one way to approach this challenge. While there is definitely merit in striving to ensure that our students have a strong background in reading and writing skills, it is unfortunate that many school districts mistakenly think that a study of disciplines such as media studies distracts from improving student performance in reading and writing. Instead, educators and school board should integrate media studies into a well rounded curriculum.

Currently, media studies courses are offered as electives in some of the high schools in the district. While this is a great opportunity for students, media studies should be an integral component of every student's high school education. There is definitely interest in the community for this curriculum as well. The Kevin Garnett Foundation's recent pledge to donate fully equipped technology centers to each Minneapolis high school has already begun to be realized. This exciting resource offers the perfect opportunity to more comprehensively integrate media studies into the curriculum. Additionally, media studies can and must be easily integrated into a Language Arts curriculum to ensure that all students can take part in this important discipline. In the state, our districts are held to a standards based curriculum centered around the Minnesota Academic Standards. To begin with, an analysis of Speaking, Listening, and Viewing in the media compromise a full third of the state's academic standards in Language Arts. Furthermore, media studies can fulfill many of the other standards not directly related to media studies as well. For example, through a study of various forms of media, students will be able to meet many other Language Arts standards: "locate and use information in reference material," "determine the meaning of unfamiliar words and metaphors by using dictionaries, context clues, and reference books," "comprehend and evaluate the purpose, accuracy, comprehensiveness, and usefulness of informational materials," and many, many more. A study of media will only enhance a student's preparation for meeting Minnesota's academic standards in Language Arts.

Aside from its ability to meet state standards, media studies should be an integral component in the high school curriculum because it can provide much needed student engagement and will help prepare students for a world that is increasingly dependent upon media and technology. First, students are more connected with media in their lives outside of the classroom than ever before. The majority of students participate in many forms of media, ranging from instant messaging and social networking to cell phones and digital video recording. Students spend much of their free time engaged in media, so why not capitalize on that interest and bring it into the classroom as a valued discipline? Likewise, it is important to help students think logically and critically about the new media that they use everyday in order to help them make informed and responsible decisions about it.

Also, after graduation, today's high school students will live in a world that is more heavily reliant on media than ever before. In order to compete in either the academic or professional marketplace, students need to be savvy in this new media. If school districts really want to return "back to basics," they should consider what these basics really are. In order for students to succeed in life outside of high school, one basic skill will probably be a critically understanding of media studies.