The School Library Media Specialist will teach and encourage ethical and efficient research behavior.

Objective: Demonstrate Efficient and Ethical Information-Seeking Behavior

Indicator: Candidates adhere to and communicate legal and ethical policies

Reflection:

Pull all PG-13 and R movies from your shelf! This was the directive given to Montgomery County Public Schools middle school Media Specialists earlier this year as the regulations governing the evaluation and selection of instructional materials were being changed. The change, resulting from a routine review of regulations by the MCPS leadership team, caught the attention of the local press and created a media frenzy. Many teachers panicked. I was bombarded with questions:

“Can I still show Dances with Wolves? What about Glory? It’s listed in my curriculum guide. I only want to show a clip from Band of Brothers. Can I just bring in my own copy since it was pulled from the shelves?”

The concerns were understandable as the professional judgment of classroom teachers and media specialists was questioned.

Their interest in regulations and procedures provided an opportunity to share more specific information about the recent changes, as well as details about copyright policies. I created a document to help the staff decide if they could show certain videos in their classroom and comply with the new regulations. I presented the information at a staff meeting and provided handouts for all staff in an easy to follow question and answer format. I also included instructions to access additional information, allowing teachers to make appropriate decisions for their instructional needs in the classroom. Our society no longer accepts ignorance as an excuse for not following rules, regulations and policies. A vital role of the school library media specialist is to provide information and tools that enable teachers to make informed legal and ethical decisions concerning classroom instruction and materials.

Page created by Heidi Walker
Last Updated May 2, 2006