Category: Political Viewpoint
Malcolm X, Military Academies, and Trump’s (Defunct) EO
Should servicemen and women be exposed to material some might deem anti-American? There are two answers to this question: the first, which addresses the specific case of Spike Lee’s Malcolm X, and the second, which appeals to the universal right to free speech usually espoused by those on the political right, but seemingly abandoned in this case.
Stop Bullying Trans People!
A U.S. Court of Appeals upholds an elementary school’s decision not to publish a 4th grade student’s essay encouraging people to stop bullying transgender people.
Librarians Hesitate on We Are Water Protectors
Librarians express concern that 2021 Caldecott winner We Are Water Protectors is too political for children.
Is the Truth Liberal?
We teach students to consider multiple points of view on topics in order to appreciate and understand diverse viewpoints, but what happens when there can’t be another point of view because the topic is false information?
The Trouble with Critical Thinking
Parent complaints over teachers’ use of CNN 10 reveals the trouble with teaching critical thinking skills.
Libraries Promoting Reflective Dialogue in a Time of Political Polarization: A Conversation with the Editors
The book is a way to explore the many ways that we can hold true to endowing librarianship to encourage a spirited inquiry and encourage more listening.
Fake News, State Standards, and Media Literacy
Over the past few years, several state legislatures have considered strengthening media literacy skills instruction in schools based on recent research findings. But how can teachers instruct students to become critical consumers of media if politicians falsely label credible sources of information as “fake news?”
Meeting Rooms and Sacred Spaces Cause Schisms in Seattle
The library as a shared space naturally brings people together, yet it can simultaneously foster deep divides within a community. The latter has taken shape recently in Seattle in a conflict between the transgender community and the Women’s Liberation Front.
Teaching Disinformation Literacy
Instead of focusing mainly on fake websites when teaching information literacy skills, teachers should introduce the term disinformation and provide students with learning opportunities to explore the detrimental effects disinformation has on society.
Diversity Versus Indoctrination in Children’s Publishing
Attempts at censorship in children’s publishing are nothing new. However, the rising popularity of organizations like We Need Diverse Books, which strives to represent all types of people in book publishing, strikes conservatives such as Joy Pullman, executive editor of The Federalist, as indoctrination. As the American Library Association prepares to celebrate Banned Books Week this month, learn more about why children need diverse books more than ever.