Re: SEC: Parental request

[Dorothy Tissair <dtissair@SNET.NET>]

At 07:23 AM 1/31/2002 -0500, you wrote:
>Our Guidance Dept. has received a request from a parent that their
>daughter not be allowed to check out materials dealing with the
>occult. They presented evidence from a psychologist that this is a
>mental health issue.

What is the Guidance Department's take on this?  Have you both discussed
this with your principal?

>I need some help in forming a reply to this
>request. I am definitely not going to supervise what she checks
>out,

I thoroughly belive that this is one place where our dual roles of
librarian and teacher collide.  As librarians we are able to make a formal
stand for freedom on information.  As teachers we are entrusted with the
care and keeping of children in the place of their parents.  I believe that
we as teachers have an obligation to accommodate the expressed desires of
the parents of our students.  There are too many other good books that we
can suggest to students for independent reading to purposely offend an
involved and loving parent.  I would do just that when in the face-to -face
checkout process in a case like this.  Truthfully, if this kid has got a
working brain cell, your support of her parents restriction will not stop
her from getting her hands on a book if she truly wants to read it.  How
hard would it be to get one of her friends to check it out for her?  Not
supporting this parental request to the best of your ability could leave
you, your guidance counsellors, your school and board open to legal action
and could put your job in jeopardy.  The Guidance Department has covered
their back by passing the request on to you.  please check and see where
your administrators stand before giving your reply.

>but I want to have just the right words when I speak with them.
>How would you phrase your reply to this request?

I would reassure the parents that I would do everything I could to meet
their request, but also caution them that this is not a 100% guarantee that
their child will not gain access to books on the occult from your
library.  I would point out that teachers and fellow classmates will be
checking these books out and that the child will still be able to read them
and you and the school can not be responsible for things such as "trades"
she might make with a classmate.  This should place the ball back in the
parents court nicely, IMHO.


Dorothy E. Tissair, M.L.S.
Library Media Specialist
Old Saybrook, CT  06475

dtissair@snet.net

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