Re: Selection policy question

[Molly Pearson <mpearson@EAGLE.ESD189.WEDNET.EDU>]

In the case of the complaint (request for removal) about a book in my
library, I was grateful I was not on the committee, for a couple of
reasons:
        I had the opportunity to "testify" about the book, the author,
        the reviews, the quantity of use and the age level of the
        borrowers.

        I did not have to suffer through the discussion--where one
        of the committee member's wife, also  teacher in our district,
        had sent her unsigned support of the complaint for the committee
        to read.  Other members of the committee were the ones who said
        that unsolicited and unsigned opinions were not appropriate in
        the context of what they were charged to do.

        While I was kind of shell shocked to give my testimony and be
        dismissed, I was later grateful.  I don't know what they
        would have done had the complaintant shown up as invited to give
        her testimony.  Needless to say, our policy is verrrrry old, and
        it is on my list of things to do to push for revision.  There
        is no clear guideline for how to conduct such a hearing...

For what it's worth,

Molly

Molly Pearson
LaKewood Primary and English Crossing Elementary
Lakewood, WA
(north of Seattle)
mpearson@eagle.esd189.wednet.edu



On Sun, 21 Jul 1996, Carol Anderheggen wrote:

> Our school district is in the process of updating the library media
> selection policy.  The revision committee consisted of four library media
> specialists, one administrator and one parent.  The document has had one
> reading at the school committee level; it is due for the second reading on
> July 30th.
>
> Our school committee would like to specify that the library media specialist
> who serves on the ad hoc committee to consider a complaint be a media
> specialist from another building.  Their reasoning is that the item under
> consideration might have been bought by the current media specialist.
>
> I am a little offended that the media specialist is considered automatically
> biased; however perhaps there other viewpoints I need to hear.  Any thoughts
> on this requested change?
>
> Carol Anderheggen            "Dark clouds are things that pass.
> carolan@ids.net                   The blue heavens abide always."
>