Many of us learned to decipher media in much simpler times. We had a limited number of news outlets, most of which adhered to the same standards of reporting. Our teachers and librarians merely needed to teach us how to navigate those sources, and determine the publisher’s biases as we decided where we stood on the issues.

That standard of reporting and sources of information have changed dramatically over the years and it has become increasing clear that we need new ways to teach students to navigate media. How is truth determined nowadays?

Teachers and librarians need the training and tools to teach our future citizens. Revamping curriculum is no easy feat. It cannot be done effectively without the support of state governments. which have the resources to devote to the effort.

We are proud that our state congressional leaders, Rep. Barbara McLaughlin and Sen. Don Coram, stepped forward to sponsor HB21-1103 (Media Literacy Implementation). This law would provide funds to create and maintain nonpartisan curriculum materials, resources and technical support that will be available to all school districts and charter schools.

McLaughlin stated, “Studying media literacy does not steer students in an ideological direction, but it does give them the tools to analyze information and form their own opinions based on facts and evidence.” Please support HB21-1103.

Kim Martin, on behalf of Friends of the Southwest La Plata Library District board of directorsHesperus