{"id":6589,"date":"2024-02-01T13:22:27","date_gmt":"2024-02-01T18:22:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/acutabove.mipamsu.org\/?p=6589"},"modified":"2024-02-01T13:22:31","modified_gmt":"2024-02-01T18:22:31","slug":"our-media-centers-whose-decisions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/acutabove.mipamsu.org\/?p=6589","title":{"rendered":"Our Media Centers, Whose Decisions?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

1st Place, News Analysis <\/strong>
2021-22, Division 1, News Writing<\/p>\n\n\n\n

By Hadeel Antar <\/strong>
The Pioneer Press
Dearborn HS<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Schools around the nation have been restricting books and other media center materials now more than ever. Within June 2021 and 2022 alone, books were banned over 2,532 times in public schools (pen.org). Although the United States is a large country, the same issue has recently made its way through our community\u2013 our Dearborn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why are schools allowed to restrict materials?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Simply: ISLAND TREES UNION<\/strong> FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT V. PICO<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 1976, the Island Trees Union Free School District located in New York banned 11 texts from their libraries, stating they were \u201canti- American, anti-Christian, anti-Semitic and just plain filthy.\u201d Ignoring opposition from the district\u2019s superintendent and the review committee, board officials followed through with the removal of 9
of the 11 texts. A student attending the schools affected, Steven Pico, declared that this action was a violation of the student population\u2019s first amendment, and the case made its way up to the Supreme Court.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 1982, the Supreme Court of the United States dove into the first amendment, specifically in terms of materials in schools. The SCOTUS, in a 5-4 majority, put forth that the reasoning behind removing certain titles from school libraries is the determinant of
whether or not the action itself should be allowed. The court ruled that if the school district\u2019s motive was through nationalistic, political, or religious means, the act would be a violation of the first amendment. On the other hand, if the school district\u2019s motive was for the sole purpose of discarding any vulgar or educationally detrimental texts, the district could go through with removing books from public school libraries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This same issue can be applied to the situation circulating in our community. Many believe that removing these media center materials are through nationalistic, political,
or religious means, while others believe that eliminating these materials is an attempt to modify children’s educational systems. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How does this apply to Dearborn?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After a series of complaints from parents, Dearborn Public Schools pulled six books out of school libraries to review and highlighted their already set-in-place review process in which parents can limit their children\u2019s access to certain books.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The review committee, which was created after listening to the community\u2019s complaints, was attempted to be introduced during the board meeting that was held on Oct. 10, 2022. However, the meeting was cut short due to commotions in the crowd and the meeting was rescheduled for Oct. 13, 2022, at Stout Middle School.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

During the meeting on Oct. 13, 2022, parents, students, staff members, and the community voiced their opinions regarding the issue at hand. Each speaker was given a maximum of three minutes to express their concerns without anyone\u2019s interruption, regardless of whether this was respected or not by the crowd. Many spoke on the review process that the district has set in place regarding materials in schools\u2019 media centers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The reviewing of media center materials aims to \u201cmaintain a well-balanced and broad collection of materials for information, reference, and research, foster learning as a lifelong activity through exposure to print and non-print materials, and to provide recreational media resources.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The selections of materials will be judged upon:
– \u201cRelevancy or permanent value
– Accuracy
– Authoritativeness
– Readability
– Clear presentation and format
– Educational significance
– Need and value to the collection
– Age appropriateness\u201d
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Former Dearborn High 2021 graduate Sam Smalley attended a rally held by those in favor of book banning on Sept. 25, 2022, in front of the Henry Ford Centennial Library. Smalley said he believes the situation at hand is another chance for him and others to represent the LGBTQ community and share their voice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cTo me, this ban feels like just another reason to stand up for myself and other members of the LGBTQ community,\u201d Smalley said. \u201cPushes for policies like this aim to make queer people less visible and afraid to take up space but I really couldn\u2019t care less about what people think of me, the demonstration I did at the protest gave me an opportunity to hopefully show younger queer people that they don\u2019t have to listen to hate.\u201d Smalley stated that his passion regarding this subject derives from his personal experience living in Dearborn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMy fuel was the harassment and alienation I experienced in Dearborn growing up queer,\u201d Smalley said. \u201cI wouldn\u2019t wish what I experienced on anyone else and when I was younger I never had anyone like me that I could look up to so I want to be that person for younger queer people in that community.\u201d
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Former Dearborn Public School student and current attorney Amine Zreik voiced his opinion regarding the issue at hand at the school board meeting held on Oct. 13, 2022.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe matter isn\u2019t about the oppression of sexual orientation, political affiliation, or whatever it may be,\u201d Zreik said. \u201c It\u2019s about the graphic material strictly whether or not that material passes constitutional muster under state and federal constitution. It\u2019s pretty straightforward.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Zreik stated that he believes the DPS system should exhibit values and precautions that are represented through Michigan\u2019s legislature, specifically section 722.673.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe very issue here is to make sure that there is an independent committee that is formed and that does reflect the very protections that are granted by the state Constitution under MCL 722, section 673 to the very students in making sure and ensuring that they are not exposed to early on obesity material that may, later on, cause issues
to their mental health or possibly other issues at home,\u201d Zreik said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What does this mean for the future of Dearborn?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Regardless of the new policies set into place by DPS, this new review process does
not include public libraries. Executive Director
of Student Achievement and former DHS head principal, Adam Martin, made this clear during the school board meeting surrounding this issue on Oct. 10, 2022.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThey are two distinct separate entities,\u201d Martin said. \u201cWe govern our libraries and our media centers separately from them.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although books surrounding certain issues are currently under review and an intense amount of criticism, DPS will continue to be an accepting and safe space for students as stated by Superintendent Dr. Glenn Maleyko.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI just wanna mention as well that our schools will continue to be welcoming safe places,\u201d Maleyko said. \u201cOur media centers will reflect books on different topics. We will go through a massive review process.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The initial review process includes multiple steps, beginning with complaints derived from parents, staff, or students. Next, the media specialist will research the text surrounding the values that the selection of materials is judged upon. This information will then be presented to a group larger than five media specialists to decide whether the text is appropriate or not through a majority vote. Afterward, a meeting will be held with the media specialist, administrator and parent to speak concerning the final decision made. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If parents do not agree with the arrangement discussed, they are able to ask for a Book Reconsideration. The Book Reconsideration Committee aims to \u201chave the input of staff and students, as well as parents and community members.\u201d Anyone interested is welcome to become part of this committee, however, members will be chosen at random, and be continuously changing, and will have a series of tasks to do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Book Reconsideration Committee will include \u201cthree parents and\/or community members, three teachers and\/or media specialists, one administrator, one social worker\/school psychologist, and one student\u201d from throughout the district. This Committee can change the previous decision made and let the book remain on library shelves, restrict the book in terms of grade level, or completely withdraw the text from school libraries. However, while the material is in for review, the book will remain on shelves until further decisions are made.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dearborn High School head principal Zeina Jebril said that DHS isn\u2019t proceeding any differently regarding media center materials in schools.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019re actually following the same process that the district is following and that\u2019s the opt-out process that has been published to the public,\u201d Jebril said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NW-05. News Analysis<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Stories should be interpretive in nature, not straight news stories. The elements \u201cwhy\u201d and \u201chow\u201d should be examined through research, but the writer\u2019s opinions should not be expressed. An analysis covers issues and problems that relate to specific events of a news nature. Submit a PDF of the print page(s) on which the story was published or the URL to the story on an online news site.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JUDGING CRITERIA<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
  • Sharp, attention-getting lead that underscore the why\/how elements of the news<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Clarifies the news elements, i.e. timeliness, nearness, impact and prominence<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Clarifies through research the background necessary to understand current news<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Develops an understanding of the issues\/problems through interviews with varied and balanced sources<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Avoids personal opinion unless properly attributed<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Sentences, paragraphs of varied length, written clearly, concisely and vividly<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Effective use of facts\/quotes from both primary and secondary sources<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Proper diction\/grammar; use of third person<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    1st Place, News Analysis 2021-22, Division 1, News Writing By Hadeel Antar The Pioneer Press Dearborn HS Schools around the nation have been restricting books and other media center materials now more than ever. Within June 2021 and 2022 alone, books were banned over 2,532 times in public schools (pen.org). Although the United States is […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[53,4],"tags":[206,20],"class_list":["post-6589","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","category-newsanalysis","category-nw","tag-2022-23","tag-division1","entry"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"featured_image_src":null,"featured_image_src_square":null,"author_info":{"display_name":"Mikayla Mazza","author_link":"https:\/\/acutabove.mipamsu.org\/?author=14"},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p6K0n6-1Ih","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/acutabove.mipamsu.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6589","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/acutabove.mipamsu.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/acutabove.mipamsu.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/acutabove.mipamsu.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/14"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/acutabove.mipamsu.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=6589"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/acutabove.mipamsu.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6589\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/acutabove.mipamsu.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=6589"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/acutabove.mipamsu.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=6589"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/acutabove.mipamsu.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=6589"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}