Re: high school home room

[Senora Rob <SraRob@MSN.COM>]

Jean,
I am a secondary teacher who has just spent a year on
sabbatical earning my library certification, so I feel that
now I can see both sides (teacher & librarian) better.
At my high school, we have a program called "Connections"
in which EVERY adult (administrators, teachers, guidance =20
counselors, librarians, etc.) is assigned a group of students
to mentor.  These groups meet approximately twice a month.
As far as having regular homerooms, we don't have them, =20
because they are combined with first block classes.  But, if =20
we did, I would expect the librarians to have one as well.  If =20
you have a compelling reason (more than just that it's never
been done), then you can make a case to your principal.  At =20
some schools, homeroom is a time in which students are =20
allowed to visit the library to check out books--which would
justify your NOT having a homeroom.  But...speaking as a =20
teacher, this is one of those areas (like duty) where teachers
(at least at my school) often feel that they are treated =20
inequitably.  Why shouldn't the librarians/counsellors/etc. =20
have a homeroom or do duty?  The librarians have "perks"
that the teachers don't.  E.G., our librarians can make phone
calls and use the restroom when they need to--we can't.  It's =20
small issues like these that hinder library/classroom collaboration.
In one of my classes, the professor stressed minimizing =20
ANYTHING that made the librarian not seem like a "regular" =20
teacher in order to avoid antagonism and encourage cooperation
between the teachers and the librarian.  We ALL work very hard
and none of us is compensated as we should be.  Likewise we all
should share in the running of the school.  I know from doing my
Library Field Experience that the librarians often did not get a
conference period and worked extremely hard ALL day.  But I
could argue back (as a teacher) that I also work extremely hard
all day and my conference period is not really my own, either,
as is it often taken up with other duties.  (Both teachers and
librarians often forsake lunch as well.)  I guess teachers and
librarians could always compare notes as to who has the more
difficult job (as we did earlier this summer on the teacher-to-
librarian thread).  But, were I a librarian this year, I personally
would be willing to have a 10-minute-a-day homeroom in order
to seem just like all the other teachers.  If nothing else, we
would have something in common to gripe about!
Just my opinion...
Milissa

Milissa E. Robertson
Secondary Teacher & Librarian-to-be
St. Amant High School
Baton Rouge, LA
SraRob@msn.com
 =20
       =20
 =20
----- Original Message -----
From: Jean Power
Sent: Wednesday, August 01, 2001 8:57 AM
To: LM_NET@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU
Subject: high school home room
 =20
I need advice ASAP on this, please.  I was just informed by way of the =3D
grapevine, 2 weeks before students return to school, that I am to have =3D
homeroom this year.  I have never even heard of high school librarians =3D
having homeroom, and need to know how to approach my administrator about =
=3D
changing this.  Has anyone dealt with this before? =3D20

Jean Power
Media Specialist, Georgetown High
jpower@gh.gcsd.k12.sc.us

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