Re: GEN: TEACHER LOSES BOOK

[D & P Wade <dpwade@POWERUP.COM.AU>]

Dear Jo and all,
I used to totally agree with your point of view.
However, over the past few years, I have had the experience of many teachers
who seem to treat the school's resources with disrespect and/or
irresponsibility.
At the end of our school year in December, 16 classroom teachers had lost
over 150 resources.  This does not include resources returned damaged or
incomplete or taken without being checked out.  This figure is actually
lower than in previous years, so you can imagine the losses we've sustained.
We have 450 students at the school.  Very few of their loans were not
returned.
2001 saw us gain a new Principal.  He feels we shouldn't have to carry such
losses.  So he wrote to each person with overdue/unreturned loans,
requesting return or compensation.
Sure, some will complain about it, and maybe one or two will be reluctant to
borrow.  But after years of patiently and politely requesting returns, and
after trying return incentive activities (like the M&M bribes), I've lost
most of my sympathy.  I find it unprofessional of them to treat school
resources in such a manner.  Many of those people then complain that there
are no resources to suit their needs!
If they were to borrow from the local city libraries, overdues would be
between 50 cents and $1 per item per day!  And there are pretty high $$$
penalties if a borrower loses an item, costs being charged for replacement
as well as processing costs.
Cheers,
Trish Wade
Teacher/Librarian
Geebung State School
Brisbane, Australia
dpwade@powerup.com.au
wade@geebungss.qld.edu.au
http://www.geebungss.qld.edu.au


----- Original Message -----
From: Josephine Dervan <rderva@INFI.NET>
To: <LM_NET@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU>
Sent: Saturday, January 05, 2002 8:11 AM
Subject: Re: GEN: TEACHER LOSES BOOK


> I have been following this thread with interest.
>
> Many years ago when I started in my first teaching job, one teacher
> often lost books from collections that she signed out for her class. I
> tried to get her to assume financial responsibility. However she was a
> good buddy of the principal. I was told by the principal that if a
> teacher took out a book and misplaced the book it was OK to forgive any
> fines. Reason: the book had been used by kids and for educational
> purposes. At the time I thought that it was favoritism. I learned much
> later that this was a wonderful piece of advice.
>
> I have never considered charging a teacher for a lost book since. I have
> discovered over the years that we are in fact, all on the same team. To
> antagonize a teacher over the cost of a book is foolish. What I do now
> is to suggest that that if the book does turn up later, just send it
> back. I make lots of friends that way. No matter how large a school is
> it is not helpful to have enemies.
>
> My Media Center is a friendly place where all are welcomed- teachers and
> students alike. If I make an enemy over a book it is not worth it. A
> class can sense when a teacher and a Media Specialist are on friendly
> terms and when they are not. It is easier for all to grit your teeth and
> forget the whole thing. You never know when you may need favor from
> her.
>
>
> Jo
> ***********************************************************
> Josephine G. Dervan, Library Media Specialist
> Strathmore Elementary School
> Aberdeen, NJ 07747
>
> Home-
> rderva@infi.net
> School-
> jdervan@marsd.k12.nj.us
>
> Staff Development for Technology Integration
> http://www.uni.edu/profdev/staffplan
>
>
> He who has a garden and a library, wants for nothing- Cicero
>
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