TARGET: Replacing Media Specialists with media aides

[Diana Peterson <diana_lynn15@YAHOO.COM>]

Dear LM_Netters:

Tuesday, I attended a committee meeting for Library
Media Specialists.  During the course of the meeting
our District Administrator "hinted" that we would be
replaced in five years with media aides. (all levels)
Needless to say, we were somewhat confused and upset
with this "new revelation."  We later called an
emergency meeting of another committee that discussed
the matter and decided to start now to "build our
case."  I feel so frustrated.....why should we have to
keep validating ourselves???  We went through a
similar
experience about ten years ago.  At that time our jobs
were saved but they gave each of the elementary
specialists two schools.  They even went so far as to
try the three school situation--but it didn't fly.
Just to add another piece of information--our District
Admin. thinks that technology is the answer for every-
thing.  It is part of our job but it is only part....
there is so much more to our positions--especially at
the elementary level.
My question to all of you is "Where does one begin
this
overwhelming task"?  I do not think that
administration
knows exactly what we do--perhaps "educating them"
would be a part of this puzzle. I think parents need
to also be a force to help our cause because it will
ultimately affect their children.  We have a district
that took the specialists out of the elementary
schools and the junior highs see a serious void when
it comes to research skills and knowing how to access
information.
Your insights would be greatly appreciated.

I have another meeting Thursday--so any wise counsel
before that time would be wonderful!!!

Diana Peterson, Media Specialist
Salt Lake City, Utah

diana_lynn15@yahoo.com

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