Town Hall Discussion:
Should certain texts be removed from our
middle school libraries?
Due to the recent concerns over certain literature
introduced to the kids at MS 51, we will be having a “Town Hall Discussion”
over the issue of keeping certain books in the middle school libraries.
Educators, the teachers that guide students, hold a unique
position of influence and must exercise care when choosing books for classroom
instruction. The National Council of Teachers of
English (NCTE) recognizes that while “the right of any individual…to
read whatever he or she wants to read is basic to a democratic society…the
teacher must exercise care to select or recommend works for class reading and
group discussion” (NCTE, The Students’ Right to Read). Because of this concern, the middle school
teachers, especially 7th and 8th grade, are coming under
fire for supplying students with such explicit material.
You will be having the discussion and presenting your arguments for why books
should or should not be kept in the classroom.
Everyone will take
on a role:
1.
Middle
School Students who are against banning any books.
2.
Middle School Parents who are for banning certain books.
3.
Middle School Teachers who are against banning any books.
4.
Middle School Administrators who are for banning certain books.
Depending on the role you are given, you will be arguing
from that perspective.
Directions:
1. Get into your group.Come up with an assertion/claim - what you want to prove; at least two strong reasons + evidence from articles and your books to support your side, two possible opposing arguments with and a counterclaim and/or question to ask the opposing side. Write in your notebook.
2. After meeting with your group and discussing all of your ideas, we will get together to have our town hall discussion. Each group will be given three (3) minutes to give their first arguments for why books should or should not be banned in our middle school libraries. After every group has a chance to speak, then we will allow groups to have rebuttals, groups will be able to respond to the initial arguments. There will be a moderator to help facilitate the discussion—to make the discussion go smoothly. The moderator will be the one who decides who is allowed to speak and when and who has the strongest arguments.
3. Write a reflection in your notebook: how has this activity changed or deepened your thinking on this issue?
1. Get into your group.Come up with an assertion/claim - what you want to prove; at least two strong reasons + evidence from articles and your books to support your side, two possible opposing arguments with and a counterclaim and/or question to ask the opposing side. Write in your notebook.
2. After meeting with your group and discussing all of your ideas, we will get together to have our town hall discussion. Each group will be given three (3) minutes to give their first arguments for why books should or should not be banned in our middle school libraries. After every group has a chance to speak, then we will allow groups to have rebuttals, groups will be able to respond to the initial arguments. There will be a moderator to help facilitate the discussion—to make the discussion go smoothly. The moderator will be the one who decides who is allowed to speak and when and who has the strongest arguments.
3. Write a reflection in your notebook: how has this activity changed or deepened your thinking on this issue?
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