Roles and Perspectives
To learn about a variety of viewpoints, the committee members will each assume the role of one of the following:
You and the other committee members will each choose a role. Each member will explore the background information and move on to their specific role area. From this research, you will draft a role position statement based on information gleaned from the relevant sites. Each of you will bring your written position statement to the committee for discussion. The Committee will formulate a unified High School Student Council recommendation to the School Board. This written recommendation needs to be supported with the arguments researched and the committee discussion.
Since your committee is representing the High School Student Council, it will be necessary to present the recommendation to the Council. This can be a power point presentation or posted to the Student Council's Webpage.
The central task of the High School Student Council Committee will be to answer the questions:
What action should the School Board take upon the proposal to ban Daddy's Roommate by Michael Willhoite, Heather Has Two Mommies by Leslea Newman, Understanding Sexual Identity by Janice Rench, and Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain from its schools?
Role Information
1. Concerned Citizen
As a concerned citizen, you are interested in how controversial materials affect today's youth. You are concerned about a healthy learning environment for the youth of our town. Explore these sites.
School-Sponsored Smut
Parent angry over books, profanity -- themorningcall.com
Family Friendly Libraries
Parents Against Bad Books in Schools
2. Media Specialist
As a school library media specialist, you select library materials based on the curriculum and reading interests of the students you serve. Librarians have the responsibility to be inclusive not exclusive in collection development. Media Specialists follow professional guidelines and standards from several organizations. Explore these sites.
Library Bill of Rights
Code of Ethics
3. Lawyer
As a lawyer, you are concerned about how the students' civil liberties would be affected by the School Board’s proposal to ban books. Explore this site.
Nothing's New
4. Librarian
As a public librarian, you select materials based on what the youth of the community like to read and need for homework assignments. Librarians have the responsibility to be inclusive not exclusive in collection development. Your professional organizations offer guidelines and standards to help you answer challenges to materials.
Code of Ethics
Dealing with Challenges
Free Access to Libraries for Minors: An Interpretation of the Library Bill of Rights
Banned Books Quest by Goehrig Orr & Jonnie Wallis