HIT: Lost/Damaged Books

[Jana Greer <Jeepmickey@AOL.COM>]

I apologize for taking so long in posting this hit. After I posted my
question we had a book fair at my school and then I went out of town to the
AASL conference.

Here is the question that I posted on October 23, 1999:

I am a new Media Specialist at an elementary school of 580 students. There
are approximately 20 students that cannot check out books because they lost
or damaged a book in previous years. The policy, which I agree with, is that
if a child loses or damages a book that child is unable to check out another
book until the book is returned or paid for. At the beginning of the year I
had orientation with each class. I asked the children "Who would have to pay
for the book if it were lost or damaged?" In each of the upper grades classes
there were 3-5 students that would answer that their parents would pay for
the books, they wouldn't. I am looking for ideas on other ways to teach
children to be responsible for their lost/damaged books besides having their
parents pay for it.

I received some good ideas which I am going to discuss with the principal of
the school. Thank you to every one who responded. I did not include names or
locations of the people that responded.

Quite a few people had the same solution. You could have the students "work"
in the Media Center by dusting or straightening, scraping gum off the tables,
or work in the classroom by straightening or cleaning.

Suggestions for when the work could be done included before or after school,
during recess, or an enrichment class (art, music, etc.). The children would
"work for about 15-20 minutes each time.

Some said that the student and the Media Specialist would agree ahead of time
on how much of their fine will be worked off. One person suggested .25 to .50
cents a day. Another person said half of minimum wage.

Hold the students report card and transcript until the fine is paid.

A couple of people said that if the book is not found by the beginning of the
next year they just count it as a lose and "wipe the slate clean."

Thanks again!

Jana Greer, Media Specialist
Shadybrook Elementary
High Point, NC
jeepmickey@AOL.COM

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-=
All postings to LM_NET are protected under copyright law.
To quit LM_NET (or set-reset NOMAIL or DIGEST), send email to:
listserv@listserv.syr.edu   In the message write EITHER:
1) SIGNOFF LM_NET 2) SET LM_NET NOMAIL or 3) SET LM_NET DIGEST
4) SET LM_NET MAIL  * Please allow for confirmation from Listserv.
For LM_NET Help see: http://ericir.syr.edu/lm_net/
Archives: http://askeric.org/Virtual/Listserv_Archives/LM_NET.html
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=