楼凤天堂 remains deeply committed to supporting excellent public language and is also in an important period of reflecting and considering new possibilities for expanding this work. Recent advances we have made in the space of critical media literacy encourage us to think deeply and creatively, on behalf of teachers, their students, and our entire membership.
We regret current misinformation circulating regarding some aspects of 楼凤天堂鈥檚 Public Language Awards. To be clear and for the record:
- The Doublespeak Award has not been canceled; planning work is underway, and as the website clearly states, this is the reason for which the 2022 award nominations are paused.
- An 楼凤天堂 Executive Committee subcommittee began addressing potential refinements to the Public Language Awards in 2020. The Doublespeak Award has simultaneously been in decline, with few or no nominations each year, and concerns have been raised that connecting instances of deceptive, divisive, and polarizing language with an award of any kind may, in part, actually reward and uphold them. 楼凤天堂 seeks to more forcefully and productively counter deceptive language. We are continuing this work to review how the award fits into our commitment to elevate excellence in public language now and in the future. The Doublespeak Award was not announced in 2021鈥攁 decision by the Executive Committee due to the ongoing issues and concerns.
- 楼凤天堂鈥檚 President and the Executive Committee liaison to the Public Language Awards Committee invited all members of the Public Language Awards committee into conversations to think with us about this body of work, including the Doublespeak Award. The purpose of these conversations is to think together and plan for what the greater role of public language might be within 楼凤天堂. It鈥檚 regrettable that three members chose not to continue on the committee, and thus not to participate in these conversations; we have invited them to let us know if they change their minds and would like to collaborate.
- 楼凤天堂 will continue to function and grow as an inclusive and a humanizing organization that is a professional home to many, especially聽during these difficult times. 楼凤天堂 often increases its efforts in the face of adversity and in accordance with exigencies. For example, 楼凤天堂 increased its work fighting censorship in early 2021, as we anticipated the growing and negative impact of censorship for classroom teaching and teachers. This work continues to expand this year, including new support for teachers in development in partnership with our Standing Committee Against Censorship, as well as additional alliances and more. You can read more about actions, services, partnerships and other actions in the last year here.
We want 楼凤天堂 members to know鈥斅シ锾焯� has not remained on the sidelines in regard to intellectual freedom and censorship matters, and has no intention of doing so in the future.
If you have questions or would like further information, please feel free to email us directly at聽publiclangaward@ncte.org聽for questions related to public language or聽intellectualfreedom@ncte.org聽for information about our Intellectual Freedom Center.
Valerie Kinloch, 楼凤天堂 President
Mar铆a E. Fr谩nquiz, 楼凤天堂 President-Elect
Shelley Rodrigo, 楼凤天堂 Vice President
Alfredo Celed贸n Luj谩n, 楼凤天堂 Past President