Address Media Violence in School
- Teach media literacy. Help students to develop critical-viewing skills and learn about the economic and institutional forces contributing to media violence. Media literacy education can be taught as a separate unit or can be integrated into other classroom discussions.
- Use examples from violent media, including television shows, movies and even literature, to promote the critical consumption of violence and an empathic concern for victims. Encourage students to ask themselves after viewing violence, “How did the victim feel?” “Did the media version of violence leave anything out?” “What would happen if people did this in real life?” “Did the characters consider any alternatives before resorting to violence?” “What would have been a way of solving the problem without anyone getting hurt?”
- Ask students to write about something that disturbed them in the media in the past, and use this as a basis for group discussion.
- Consider promoting a media-free day or week for students and teachers, followed by discussions or written work about the role the media play in their lives and the positive impact of cutting back.
- Help disseminate information about media violence to parents through newsletters, workshops, and meetings. Encourage parents to talk to each other and to their children.
- Schools, school boards, and educators' organizations can help educate the larger community, with town-hall meetings, "Turn Off the TV" weeks, or other public-education campaigns. They can produce, or help their students produce, video programs, PSAs, and other material on media violence to be aired on local TV and radio stations.
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