Re: [LM_NET] Electronic Gaming/Middle School/Parent Concern

[Paula Yohe <paula_yohe@YAHOO.COM>]

I guess now that I have spent time on both sides of this - being a media specialist 
in jr. high for over 20 years dealing with the same issue with magazines in 
particular and now as an administrator for the last few years
think about this from the other side -- -- the administrator for a few minutes for 
a different perspective

1. Why do librarians call this censorship? You picked the magazine -and put it into 
the media center collection -- it's not like every magazine in the world is in the 
school media center - so it isn't censorship
2. How do these magazines support the curriculum and raise student achievment?
3. If we are supposed to be teaching students repsect for all -- why would you put 
something that is not supporting the curriculum in the media center and ask for 
trouble
4. Media specialists always say they have no money and just look what they spend it 
on --
5. If they want to spend their own money on these magazines -- then let the student
6. The irate parent shows up that wants to know why this stuff is in a school 
library --- their tax dollars shouldn't pay for this trash. What does this have to 
do with reading, writing, and math -- that is what they are at school for.
7. The parent that shows up and says you disciplined my child for using bad 
language but you have this stuff in the school library.

Now remember the principal has probably had several fights, irate parents, 
meetings, test scores, air conditioning is out in three classrooms, a water 
fountain is broke, lunch is late so the bells have to be held up, teachers upset, 
etc. ---

Now censorship an issue that is an important issue to us as media specialists is at 
the bottom of their list --
There answer -- make it go away because there is a bigger problem right behind it 
that they have to deal with

Is this right -- probably not --
 is it reality -- probably

I am not advocating for  removing materials -- but offering a point of view that 
never entered my mind when I was in the media center --
Just food for thought
Paula




Dana Fisher <dfisher@TMS.CVILLE.K12.IN.US> wrote:
At the request of my principal and assistant principal, I have taken Electronic 
Gaming, PSM, and PlayStation magazine off the racks. (Too violent and very 
anti-woman.) Mad Magazine is also gone because my assistant principal said that our 
students could be written up for using language found in the magazine. I'm not 
crazy about the way electronic games portray women either, but I am really 
conflicted about this. I don't like censoring and, let's face it, if they have the 
money, the kids are buying these magazines or at least looking at them in the 
stores. The gaming magazines bring boys into the library who wouldn't come in for 
any other reason. I stopped buying the age-appropriate magazines (the few that 
exist for middle school) because the kids never picked them up.

I'd love to hear what other middle school librarians are subsribing to.

Dana W. Fisher, Librarian
Joseph F. Tuttle Middle School
Crawfordsville IN
dfdisher@tms.cville.k12.in.us

-----Original Message-----
From: School Library Media & Network Communications
[mailto:LM_NET@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU]On Behalf Of Billie Esser
Sent: Wednesday, February 09, 2005 1:54 PM
To: LM_NET@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU
Subject: Electronic Gaming/Middle School/Parent Concern


Was wondering how many of you have Electronic Gaming in your middle school 
collection? I have a parent concern - not an official challenge - about the 
magazine. How have you handle this?

Thanks,




---------------------------------
Do you Yahoo!?
Yahoo! Mail - now with 250MB free storage. Learn more.

--------------------------------------------------------------------
All LM_NET postings are protected by copyright law.
To change your LM_NET status, e-mail to: listserv@listserv.syr.edu
In the message write EITHER: 1) SIGNOFF LM_NET 2) SET LM_NET NOMAIL
3) SET LM_NET MAIL 4) SET LM_NET DIGEST * Allow for confirmation.
LM_NET Help & Information: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/
Archive: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/archive/
EL-Announce with LM_NET Select: http://elann.biglist.com/el-announce/
LM_NET Supporters: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/ven.html
--------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------
All LM_NET postings are protected by copyright law.
To change your LM_NET status, e-mail to: listserv@listserv.syr.edu
In the message write EITHER: 1) SIGNOFF LM_NET 2) SET LM_NET NOMAIL
3) SET LM_NET MAIL 4) SET LM_NET DIGEST * Allow for confirmation.
LM_NET Help & Information: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/
Archive: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/archive/
EL-Announce with LM_NET Select: http://elann.biglist.com/el-announce/
LM_NET Supporters: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/ven.html
--------------------------------------------------------------------


Paula Yohe
Director Of Technology/Library Media Center
Dillon School District Two
405 West Washington Street
Dillon, SC 29536
Phone: 843-841-3604 Fax:843-774-1214
paula_yohe@yahoo.com

---------------------------------
Do you Yahoo!?
 Yahoo! Search presents - Jib Jab's 'Second Term'

--------------------------------------------------------------------
All LM_NET postings are protected by copyright law.
To change your LM_NET status, e-mail to: listserv@listserv.syr.edu
In the message write EITHER: 1) SIGNOFF LM_NET  2) SET LM_NET NOMAIL
3) SET LM_NET MAIL  4) SET LM_NET DIGEST  * Allow for confirmation.
LM_NET Help & Information: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/
Archive: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/archive/
EL-Announce with LM_NET Select: http://elann.biglist.com/el-announce/
LM_NET Supporters: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/ven.html
--------------------------------------------------------------------