Students, write your letters!

From: Kristy
Date: August 17, 2010 5:48:52 PM CDT
To: Linn Ann Huntington , Angela Powers , "Dr. Cynthia Allan" , Mark Raduziner , Ann Brill , Dave Bostwick , "Dr. Kathy Menzie" , Max McCoy , "Dr. Susan Huxman"
Subject: Journalism Education in Kansas

Dear Journalism Educator:

This letter is written in support of keeping scholastic journalism as a funded pathway in the VE-2 and Career Technical Education (CTE) funding provided by the state of Kansas. Although educational funds are in short supply everywhere, the elimination of funds for scholastic journalism would be a critical mistake; one that would have lasting consequences for high schools, colleges and industry throughout the state of Kansas.

Journalism instructors teach more than skills required to produce a newspaper or yearbook. They also teach vital writing and thinking skills in a real-world and hands-on setting. There are few classes that allow students to gain these skills in one subject area.

Jim McCrossen, the adviser at Blue Valley Northwest, conducted a survey to find parents and students perceptions on the 21st Century skills gained in journalism courses. Journalism classes, along with yearbook and newspaper programs, utilize many of the “ten unifying themes” of the 21st century/college-ready learner. These classes use skills such as creativity, critical thinking and collaboration. When asked to select the 21st Century skills gained as a result of taking a journalism course, parents and students responded in the following way:

Creativity and innovation - 98%

Critical thinking and problem solving - 96%

Communicating and collaborating - 98%

Information, communication, technology and media literacy - 98%

Flexibility and adaptability - 92%

Initiative and self-direction - 92%

Social and cross-cultural skills - 81%

Productivity and accountability - 96%

Leadership and responsibility - 96%

Employment and career development- 82%

While other courses offered in high school may teach these skills, it is argued that no ONE course does as much in all these areas as journalism. Even students who do not go into journalism as a career recognize its value. As one Blue Valley Northwest student said, “Yearbook shaped me into a better person. I developed time and stress management skills. My communication skills have also improved greatly and my writing is definitely better as well - both very important traits to possess in college. The most important thing yearbook has taught me is how to be a leader. . . I worked with a wide variety of personality types. I quickly learned that every staff member has something positive to contribute to the book and developed a much more open mind. . . These leadership skills not only prepare me for college but will translate directly into future success.

According to workforce survey: “Are They Really Ready to Work?” (2006) cited by the Kansas Department of Education (KSDE) in the October 2008 “Kansas Career Clusters Implementation Plan,” business and industry responded to the question: Of the high school students that you recently hired, what were their deficiencies?

Written Communication 81%, Leadership 73%, Work Ethic 70%, Self-Direction 58%

Journalism programs are ideally suited to provide students the best education in each of these areas.

With the emphasis on media convergence, scholastic journalism teachers are in the unique position of teaching both form and content. They are qualified to teach web page design, yearbook design, and newspaper design, and they are also uniquely qualified to teach media law, student press law, writing for each of the types of media, and photography. All of these skills are increasingly needed in the marketplace in careers ranging from a website manager to a public relations professional to a professional journalist. Funded programs in information technology courses and arts and audio visual courses mainly focus on form, rather than content. Journalism courses combine form and content, teaching students both are important.

Some at KSDE see journalism as a dying profession, unworthy of funding because it does not meet the criteria of being a high demand, high wage, and high skill occupation. KSDE has determined that the courses in the new pathways must lead to professions that meet these three criteria. As a result, no VE-2 and CTE funded class can train students for careers in journalism and the classes can no longer produce any journalism related products (i.e. newspapers and yearbooks).

Journalism is evolving and changing; but very much alive in the form of media convergence and public relations. Public relations professionals are very much in demand, as are those who can write well and function in the converged media format. The Bureau of Labor Statistics, other states’ departments of education and those in higher education understand this demand. Students studying public relations in journalism schools have increased. Texas, Nebraska and Oklahoma all recognize and fund pathways in journalism, broadcasting and converged media.

Some at KSDE believe that only business teachers or English teachers with computer training are able and qualified to teach such courses as web design and digital media. In fact, some at KSDE believe those with journalism certification should not be allowed to teach digital media or Web 2.0 courses. This raises the question- when is a teacher with English certification and some computer training more qualified than a journalism certified teacher with computer and media ethics training to teach these courses?

Under current educational guidelines for VE-2 and CTE funding in the state of Kansas, journalism programs will no longer receive funding after 2012. There will be no opportunity to create a journalism pathway for funding after November 2010, so time is critical. Even limited funding is crucial in order for some publications programs to remain in existence. Journalism programs teach students many essential life skills.

Do not deprive students of this learning experience in high school, which can influence them for a lifetime. Please contact the following to stop this movement before journalism in high school is eliminated across Kansas:

● Gov. Mark Parkinson

(785)-296-3232

governor@ks.gov

● Dr. Diane DeBacker

Deputy Commissioner at Kansas State Department of Education

(785) 296-2303

ddebacker@ksde.org

● Robin Harris

Assistant Director, Academic and Technical Education

(785) 296-3951

rharris@ksde.org

● Dr. Andy Tompkins

KS Board of Regents President/ CEO

(785) 296-3421

atompkins@ksbor.org

Kansas Board of Education Members

● Janet Waugh Kathy Martin

State Board District 1 State Board District 6

(913) 620-5062 (c) (785) 463-5463 (h)

JWaugh1052@aol.com martinkathy@yahoo.com

● Sue Storm Kenneth Willard

State Board District 2 State Board District 7

(913) 642-3121(h) (620) 669-0498 (home)

sstorm717@aol.com kwillard@cox.net

● John Bacon Dr. Walt Chappell

State Board District 3 State Board District 8

(913) 660-0392 (h) (316) 838-7900(w)

jwmsbacon@aol.com chappellhq@chappell4ksboe.com

● Carolyn Wims-Campbell Jana Shaver

State Board District 4 State Board District 9

(785) 266-3798 (h) (620) 331-1452 (home)

campbell4kansasboe@verizon.net jshaver@cableone.net

● Sally Cauble David Dennis

State Board District 5 State Board District 10

(620) 624-6677 (h) (316) 650-0152 (c)

SCauble@swko.net dtdennis@swbell.net

Kansas Post Secondary Technical Education Authority Members
● Blake Flanders Janice Haberman

Vice President of Workforce Development Exec. Asst. to VP of Workforce Development

(785) 296-1194 (785) 296-2999

bflanders@ksbor.org jhaberman@ksbor.org

U.S. Department of Education

● Karen Cator

Director of the Office of Educational Technology

400 Maryland Avenue SW Room 7E222

Washington, DC 20202

(202)-401-1444

Karen.Cantor@ed.gov

● Sharon Miller John Haigh

Office of Vocational and Adult Ed. Office of Vocational and Adult Ed.

(202) 245-7846 (202) 245-7735

sharon.miller@ed.gov john.haigh@ed.gov

● Scott Hess Margaret Romer

Office of Vocational and Adult Ed. Office of Vocational and Adult Ed.

(202) 245-7772 (202) 245-7501

Scott.Hess@ed.gov margaret.romer@ed.gov

U.S House and Senate

● Sam Brownback

US Senate

(202) 224-6521 (DC)

(785) 233-2503 (Topeka)

http://brownback.senate.gov/public/forkansans/caseworkcontactform.cfm

● Pat Roberts

US Senate

(202) 224-4774 (DC)

(785) 295-2745 (Topeka)

http://roberts.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=EmailPat

● Lynn Jenkins

Representative

(202) 225-6601 (DC)

(785) 234-LYNN (5966) (Topeka)

http://lynnjenkins.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=3&sectiontree=3

● Dennis Moore

Representative

(913) 383-2013 (Overland Park)

(202) 225-2865 (DC)

● Jerry Moran

Representative

(785) 309-0572 (Salina)

(202) 225-2715 (DC)

http://forms.house.gov/jerrymoran/webforms/contact.html

● Todd Tiahart

Representative

(316) 262-8992 (Wichita)

(202)-225.6216 (DC)

http://www.tiahrt.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=12

Thanks for your support of Kansas journalism,

Kristy Dekat, CJE

KSPA Area 3 Representative

Journalism Adviser

Topeka West High School

kristydekat@gmail.com

Source: http://pubsrocks.blogspot.com/2010/08/students-write-your-letters.html