Rhode Island lawmakers propose media literacy in schools

Lawmakers in Rhode Island are pushing a bill to make media literacy a required subject in schools. Media literacy helps students recognize false information and learn to evaluate news sources. Senator Dawn Euer is leading this initiative, building on efforts from other lawmakers. The bill aims to add "media literacy" to the existing curriculum focused on civics education. Representative June S. Speakman emphasized the importance of teaching students to become informed citizens. She noted that understanding the difference between facts, opinions, and misinformation is crucial for democracy. Euer shared a recent personal experience to highlight the need for this education. After participating in a St. Patrick's Day parade, she received messages claiming that officials were booed by the crowd, which was proven false by her experience at the event. This incident illustrates how misinformation can spread quickly online. Supporters of the bill stress that with constant access to smartphones, students must learn to identify trustworthy sources. Erin Stevenson from the Secretary of State's office pointed out that many teenagers struggle to differentiate between news, opinion, and advertisements. Senator Tiara Mack, a former teacher, agreed that today's students often read only short excerpts rather than full texts. This makes it harder for them to distinguish between what is true and what is not. The Rhode Island Department of Education has indicated that civic media literacy is already part of the eighth-grade standards. The bill is currently under further study, as lawmakers consider how to enhance media literacy education in the state.