Sometimes I hear about decisions in different school systems that are made that leave me scratching my head. I know that teachers don't always know why the decisions are made or what factors beyond teacher control are a part of the decision. And I get that.
Someone told me today about a decision that leaves me feeling very sad. Some schools are eliminating their librarians and school libraries. I heard that one principal allegedly said, "Libraries are becoming a thing of the past."
As a middle school reading teacher who has about 60% of her students not at proficiency and who has students who do not enjoy reading and who works who butt off to change that, I shudder at the thought of not having school libraries and librarians.
Are teachers wrong to question this decision? Should they be concerned? But most importantly, can they do anything about it?
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I feel the same way. We need books in kids hands especially in the early years! I am saddened to hear this is happening!
ReplyDeleteWe are in the same boat. We have 6 schools in our district, and 3 have media centers. We are down to two media specialists who are certified media specialists. It is disheartening. Books are being replaced by Kindle devices, and human creativity is being replaced by AI. The world as we know it is rapidly changing. I'm stepping down off my soapbox of commiserating about the old days, but I like thinking about it back when it was good.
ReplyDeleteOh my gosh. I have heard this happening in school across the country. It hasn't happened to my area - yet. It is the most ridiculous thing I have heard. When we desperately need MORE literacy, they take the libraries away! It's all about money and new trends/directions. Why can't there be both STEM and books. It should never be either/or. This make me so mad, but I'm not sure what to do about it. Does the teacher union have a stance on this? I teach in a private school, so I am not aware of how public schools can fight back.
ReplyDeleteYes, be very concerned. I do not understand this thinking or decision-making. If we want to have literate students who understand global issues and who can think critically, they need books. They need books to heal and to be entertained. They need books to be enlightened. They need books to connect. I'm horrified! Hope the school remedies this situation. I would ask others to join you and go to a school board meeting. Consider the Common Core standards as a gateway into showing the importance of reading and choice!
ReplyDeleteMy biological kids didn't have a school librarian until high school. It is such a disservice. If your district wants a stem teacher, why not have the librarian do both jobs? Many media specialists incorporate technology into their library visits.
ReplyDeleteWe should never lose librarians, and never lose social workers and psychologists, while I'm at it. Reading is at the core of everything we do. It is absolutely outrageous and certainly there is cause for concern. I would speak to other teachers and perhaps raise the issue at faculty meetings and even write letters to a local newspaper with lots of teachers signing.
ReplyDeleteOh, Leigh Anne, I had not heard of this. How heartbreaking. I like that you are asking what you can do about it. I will find out what's happening in our school district. Thank you for writing this.
ReplyDeleteThis principal has obviously never read the documented studies that point to the necessity of having trained school librarians to increase literacy skills, especially in elementary schools. https://kappanonline.org/lance-kachel-school-librarians-matter-years-research/ Our schools have both STEM teachers and librarians; they complement each other, don't replace one another.
ReplyDeleteWhen I was a districtwide administrator, the question of libraries came up. There was no way that I would support that, especially when libraries are the hub of the school. The librarians were already running classes. I am not sure why money always speaks larger than words but in this case, I had so many people backing the keeping of libraries in-district with librarians that I felt confident at that time.
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