No Subject

["Gail K. Dickinson" <ny001001@MAIL.NYSER.NET>]

Although responsibility certainly is important, and any educator has the
responsibility to encourage it; teaching it (can it really be taught?)
is not our purpose in the school.   IMHO, our purpose is to encourage the
love of reading and teach information skills.  Ease up.
Sending kids home in tears does not endear us to the hearts of parents,
and in these economic times, we need supporters in all corners.
As a supervisor, I would encourage you to always let kids get at least
one book, maybe two in a pinch.

Now, if it gets outrageous (is that right, gee, my kingdom for
spell-check on e-mail), like maybe 5 or so books overdue, then, maybe,
cut them off after a call home.

Think about the mission of the library program in a school.  My
suggestion -- stop doing overdues except for once a month.  Don't worry
about the books at home, worry about the ones that are staying on the
shelves.

Another random thought -- two things that continue to make us look
stereotypical -- overdues and inventory -- neither contributes to our
mission -- and both may distract us from it.

 *****************************************

Gail Dickinson
Union-Endicott Central School District
Endicott, NY 13760
                        "a wild patience has taken me this far.