Re: ELEM:FLEX VS SCHEDULED - discussion

[AAkers <aakers@NANDO.NET>]

     I'm not sure the question should be "Are all children being served?"
but rather "How are all children being served?"  That's where I would put
flexible access way ahead of a fixed schedule.  All children are not
served when they can only use the media center once or in some cases
every two weeks.  When I ran a fixed schedule sure I saw all the students
once a week.  I "served" all the students.  What I served them were
canned lessons that meant nothing to them or to their teachers who were
more interested in the "planning period" than in relevant, meaningful
research and exploration.  Perhaps now with flexible access I don't serve
all of my students equitably, at least I am serving them relevancy and
when I work with the teachers who are "brave" enough to team teach with
me I am assured that my students are getting the best of me and the media
center.
     Flexibly-accessed media centers are but one of the changes to which
teachers need to become accustomed.  A true, integrated, technology-rich
classroom demands that teachers change from leaders to guides and
recognize that the classroom extends far beyond the four walls.  Flexible
access is not easy for anyone, but it is a step in the right direction
towards empowering students and giving them some responsibility for their
learning.

Anne Akers
Pleasant Union Elementary
Raleigh, NC
AAkers@avalon.nando.net

On Sat, 21 Oct 1995, Karen Perry wrote:

> Discussion:
>         As a parent and media specialist, I know that my children are
> served in different ways with "flexible" scheduling.  Sometimes it
> doesn't work out to force the flexible on someone whose idea of working
> with teachers is to ask the gifted and talented/accelerated teacher when
> she wants to do her usual unit on Island of the Blue Dolphins. What
> happens to the children who are not in the accelerated class?  Do they
> ever get to take advantage of media services?  Only if their teacher is
> assertive enough to ask for it.
>         The fixed schedule was an attempt in years past to offer service
> to EVERY child in the school on a timely schedule.  When you replace this
> idea with flexible schedules, one must ask "Are all the children being
> served? and still in a timely manner?"
>         Every school is different because its population is different.
> Partial adjustments to incorporate the flexible notion are probably still
> the best compromise for the timid librarian and the unsure teacher.
> Structure is important to children and to the faint of heart as well.
>         Thanks to Cheryl for highlighting this side of the issue.
> Karen Perry
> Griffin Middle School
> High Point, NC  27260
> perryk@hamlet.uncg.edu
>