Media literacy in School libraries.

media literacy in school libraries

what is media literacy?

according to Center for Media Literacy (http://www.medialit.org/), the definition is

"Media Literacy is a 21st century approach to education. It provides a framework to access, analyze, evaluate and create messages in a variety of forms — from print to video to the Internet. Media literacy builds an understanding of the role of media in society as well as essential skills of inquiry and self-expression necessary for citizens of a democracy."

i think this is a brief but very comprehensive definition of what media literacy is, but the application and practice of it in libraries, especially in school environments doesn't seem as clear and simple as it is in the definition.
as there're variety of forms of media people use today, there're equally as diverse views and conflicts media literacy or media education. it sounds almost like a chaos. Despite all the debates regarding media literacy, I think there's one thing for sure: children and young adults are active users of media or technology, and adults (especially parents)do not really have control over it.
given this reality and the huge impact that media can have on teens, media literacy education is critical and urgent. it goes beyond enhancing self-expression or vocational skills. it is about educating them to be a critical and mature consumer of media, through which they can build life-long academic, intellectual, and vocational foundation.
I understand all the worries about violence, sex, drug, crime, etc. no society is free of them, as it's a part of human life. there is no way of completely staying away from them, even indirectly, unless one lives without any sort of medium.

think how awful it is that pornography is the first 'tool' that many kids learn about sex. and they will form a very abnormal concept of sex. and think how much information floating around the internet is actually junk. today's kids use it without the ability to evaluate it. adults, parents and educators alike, can't just sit back and criticize the harmful effect of media. what's harmful is inaction or inability to work on it, say, media literacy.