Comments on: Elyria (OH) Schools To Lose All School Librarians http://www.slj.com/2013/03/budgets-funding/elyria-oh-schools-to-lose-all-school-librarians/ The world's largest reviewer of books, multimedia, and technology for children and teens Thu, 19 Sep 2013 00:20:41 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.2 By: Amy B. http://www.slj.com/2013/03/budgets-funding/elyria-oh-schools-to-lose-all-school-librarians/#comment-32956 Amy B. Fri, 12 Apr 2013 11:21:25 +0000 http://www.slj.com/?p=34212#comment-32956 My favorite quote: “They’re expensive for us to run,” he says of school libraries. “We want students to have access but not spend as much money on them.” {forehead thumps on desk} Reminds me of the tried and true bumper sticker: You think education is expensive? Try ignorance. My favorite quote: “They’re expensive for us to run,” he says of school libraries. “We want students to have access but not spend as much money on them.” {forehead thumps on desk}

Reminds me of the tried and true bumper sticker: You think education is expensive? Try ignorance.

]]> By: Dorothea http://www.slj.com/2013/03/budgets-funding/elyria-oh-schools-to-lose-all-school-librarians/#comment-28690 Dorothea Thu, 14 Mar 2013 13:37:31 +0000 http://www.slj.com/?p=34212#comment-28690 I knew when I retired in 2004 that the younger woman who replaced e would only be a temp. Six years later the job was gone and my replacement who had 14 years in the system was out looking for a job. The district where I worked cut two librarians and now only has secondary levels covered by certified people. The next job cut will be in the Middle School grades 6,7,&8. So sad. Who will teach the students how to use technology well and wisely? I knew when I retired in 2004 that the younger woman who replaced e would only be a temp. Six years later the job was gone and my replacement who had 14 years in the system was out looking for a job. The district where I worked cut two librarians and now only has secondary levels covered by certified people. The next job cut will be in the Middle School grades 6,7,&8. So sad. Who will teach the students how to use technology well and wisely?

]]> By: Jan http://www.slj.com/2013/03/budgets-funding/elyria-oh-schools-to-lose-all-school-librarians/#comment-27717 Jan Thu, 07 Mar 2013 16:20:47 +0000 http://www.slj.com/?p=34212#comment-27717 I am so glad to know that when I retire at the end of this year, someone qualified will replace me. I feel bad for all the students. I know that those librarians who were absorbed to other positions will still be instilling their knowledge any way they can. And all of the teachers are going to notice their absence immediately. How on earth are principals going to oversee the library? I agree with Amy's comments completely. They aren't. I am so glad to know that when I retire at the end of this year, someone qualified will replace me. I feel bad for all the students. I know that those librarians who were absorbed to other positions will still be instilling their knowledge any way they can. And all of the teachers are going to notice their absence immediately. How on earth are principals going to oversee the library? I agree with Amy’s comments completely. They aren’t.

]]> By: Amy http://www.slj.com/2013/03/budgets-funding/elyria-oh-schools-to-lose-all-school-librarians/#comment-27588 Amy Wed, 06 Mar 2013 09:38:58 +0000 http://www.slj.com/?p=34212#comment-27588 This is an information age - why get rid of those most qualified to sort through and present the best access to the best information? Will principals sort through the literature, make informed purchase decisions, and present best reading and research choices in an attractive and easily accessible manner? Will principals weed out-dated books and replace them with current, accurate materials, cataloging, processing and shelving them for easy access? Will principals maintain websites and repair damaged books? No. They won't. Principals will spend dwindling monies to buy computers to test students because legislators say so. Principals will spend money to prepare students for tests required by legislators with no teaching expertise rather than encourage them to read and research books and online information sources - life skills that will be used long after the testing has stopped. Principals will continue to cut funds needed for quality education because legislators who cannot fund schools in a constitutional manner look at schools as a business. They look to privatization of schools to make money. Only the bottom line matters. Kids have become merely a by-product of the system -quantifiable data to be measured and discarded. School libraries are for people who wish to be informed by the best sources in print and online, for people who value life-long learning and media literacy, for those who truly wish to educate and be educated. This is an information age – why get rid of those most qualified to sort through and present the best access to the best information? Will principals sort through the literature, make informed purchase decisions, and present best reading and research choices in an attractive and easily accessible manner? Will principals weed out-dated books and replace them with current, accurate materials, cataloging, processing and shelving them for easy access? Will principals maintain websites and repair damaged books?

No. They won’t. Principals will spend dwindling monies to buy computers to test students because legislators say so. Principals will spend money to prepare students for tests required by legislators with no teaching expertise rather than encourage them to read and research books and online information sources – life skills that will be used long after the testing has stopped. Principals will continue to cut funds needed for quality education because legislators who cannot fund schools in a constitutional manner look at schools as a business. They look to privatization of schools to make money. Only the bottom line matters. Kids have become merely a by-product of the system -quantifiable data to be measured and discarded.

School libraries are for people who wish to be informed by the best sources in print and online, for people who value life-long learning and media literacy, for those who truly wish to educate and be educated.

]]> By: Kristen http://www.slj.com/2013/03/budgets-funding/elyria-oh-schools-to-lose-all-school-librarians/#comment-27538 Kristen Tue, 05 Mar 2013 22:52:08 +0000 http://www.slj.com/?p=34212#comment-27538 This is so so sad. This is so so sad.

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