Media Literacy

I spent some time at an elementary after school program today. For my Media Literacy class we are required to teach a group of students 4 hours of media literacy lessons. My group and I are going to be working through an organization called Coalition for Kids. It is an after school program. At the sight we are at there are about 35, 2-5 graders.

We went today to scout out the place. We needed to see where we would be teaching and what there was available to us. There was a slight misunderstanding and when we arrive, the kids were handed over to our control. Quick thinking stepped in and out came a 45 minute lesson on Violence in media. It actually went really well.

There were a few things that were said by the kids today that surprised me. It goes to show the many different parenting techniques used, which brings variety to a classroom. The first thing we started off with was a conversation about our favorite movies, tv shows, and video games. There were a variety of answers ranging from Tom and Jerry to Knocked Up (this one took me by surprise.) Then there was one little girl named Alleah who took me right back to my childhood. Every time another kid suggested a favorite movie or television show, her little hand would shoot up and she would say, "I'm not allowed to watch that show." I felt awful that she didn't have much to add to the conversation, and most of what she did add was put down my the other kids. I finally came up with an area I knew she would be able to help us in:

"Alleah, can you explain the ratings on television shows and movies?"

Her eyes lite up and she said, "I sure can!" and went on a 5 minutes explanation of what G, PG, and PG-13 meant. My favorite description was PG to which she said, "These shows a kid can watch, but only with mommy. That's what mommy said. Only with mommy. I think it's so she can shut it off when it gets to be for mommy and daddy and not me."

I then asked what the word violence means to the kids and where they see violence. The first answer was "on the playground." I then offered up some words, asking the kids to tell me if they were violent actions or not. I suggested pushing, shoving, smiling, and waving. All of these the kids gave the reasonable answer. Then I suggested winking. To this one little boy said it was very violent. I asked why. I was not prepared for the response:

"Winking is very violent because when one guy winks at another guy, that means their gay and I'm going to have to beat them up. And believe me, that would be violent."

Where do you go with that? What do you say? I'm sure this is only the beginning of shocking answers I will receive from kids.

Isn't it amazing how the only people who can leave me speechless are those under the age of 12?