SLATE Newsletter


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Welcome to the SLATE Newsletter! This online newsletter is mailed three times a year to the e-mail address NCTE has on file for you. We are excited to be able to send you terrific articles and important details about issues that affect the teaching of the English language arts. You may access an archive of past SLATE Newsletters, SLATE Starter Sheets, and other SLATE-related material at http://www.ncte.org/about/issues/slate Share These Materials SLATE Newsletters are offered as resources for dealing with current issues affecting the teaching of English language arts. Reproduce these materials and use them to help promote better understanding of the goals of English teaching. May 2006 Check out NCTE's Action Center for the Latest Action Alerts See http://www.ncte.org/about/issues/action/alerts
From the Editor Fred Barton Editor, SLATE Newsletter Well, another school year has come and gone. I’ve always found it odd to be reflecting back over the year just as it seems to be getting started. See http://www.ncte.org/about/issues/slate/124727.htm More Words for Grace Mindy Nathan Bloomfield Hills, Michigan When I read Grace’s interpretation of Martin Luther King’s prescient words, it crystallized what have been my seething objections to the increased graduation requirements being proposed by our Governor here in Michigan, our State Superintendent, and our State Board of Education, not to mention the similar tide sweeping those states participating in the “American Diploma Project” of Achieve, Inc. (A bi-partisan, corporate-political entity that boasts our Governor as a board member). To criticize anything that demands more “academic rigor” of our young people these days is like criticizing motherhood and apple pie—two mighty powerful values within Americana. Read article at http://www.ncte.org/about/issues/slate/124720.htm Parade of the EduBlogs! Oh look, there are clowns Fred Barton Editor, SLATE Newsletter It’s the yearly Parade of the Edublogs. I’ve tried to provide a range of offerings for your summer perusal at http://www.ncte.org/about/issues/slate/124721.htm Grandmother to Grandmother Linda Goodgion, Acton Middle School, Grandbury, Texas This article was written by a school librarian in defense of a book from her library that was challenged. I have just finished reading the book Detour for Emmy by Marilyn Reynolds. It’s the kind of book that makes me feel a sense of sadness when the book is finished because it feels as if I’m saying goodbye to a good friend. Read article at http://www.ncte.org/about/issues/slate/124725.htm An Ounce of Prevention Marcia Punsalan nobannedbooks@yahoo.com Just as communication has advanced from party-line phones of the 1940s to Internet and satellite telecommunications, classroom literature must change to entice today’s students to read. I began teaching a novel I believed would hook teen readers, including my class of 10th graders. See http://www.ncte.org/about/issues/slate/124724.htm Censorship Challenge News Millie Davis, NCTE Director of Communications and Affiliate Services R-rated films topped the list of 22 censorship challenges reported to NCTE during the 3rd Quarter (from January 1 through March 31, 2006), compared with 16 for the same time period in 2005. Read the entire report at http://www.ncte.org/about/issues/slate/124726.htm NCTE offers advice, helpful documents, and other support at no cost to teachers faced with challenges to literary works, films and videos, drama productions, or teaching methods. For more information, visit NCTE's Anti-Censorship Center at http://www.ncte.org/about/issues/censorship NCTE Members Take Literacy Education Issues to Congress Kent Williamson, NCTE Executive Director April was a very active month for policy advocacy through NCTE, at the grassroots and national levels. Building on the foundation of three "firsts" for the Council -- the legislative platform approved by the Executive Committee in mid-February; a podcast from the CCCC Convention, "No Students Left Behind"; and the publication of a Policy Research Brief by the Squire Policy Research Office, NCTE Principles of Adolescent Literacy Reform -- we launched four major outreach initiatives in the month. See http://www.ncte.org/about/gov/cgrams/news/124717.htm Of Tin Foil Hats and Voices from the Closet Fred Barton Editor, SLATE Newsletter I’ve never been much of a fan of conspiracy theories, although I can understand their attraction. It’s much more comforting to believe that evil is the result of intention than simply random chance. After all, who wants to think that civilization is so fragile a single madman acting alone can change the direction of history? I’ve always thought of those who believe the world is awash in conspiracies to be practicing the same faith that brings people to church on Sunday morning, just a darker version. Read the entire article at http://www.ncte.org/about/issues/slate/124722.htm How to Submit NCTE Resolutions One of the most important ways you can make a difference is to submit a resolution on an issue of importance to English language arts education. NCTE resolutions, along with NCTE guidelines and position statements, tell the world what we feel is best practice (and sometimes what we feel is not) in English language arts education. These resolutions are voted on at the Annual Business Meeting for the Board of Directors and Other Members of the Council, and they do make a difference. Submissions for resolutions are due on October 15 of each year. To see current resolutions, which are good models for resolution format, and the rules and procedures governing the submission of resolutions, visit http://www.ncte.org/about/over/positions/107214.htm Important Policy Connections NCTE Position Statements http://www.ncte.org/about/over/positions NCTE Policy Collections http://www.ncte.org/edpolicy NCTE Executive Committee Strategic Governance Policy (scroll to Strategic Governance near the bottom of the page) http://www.ncte.org/about/gov

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