On Mon, 24 Jun 2002, Richard VanDyk wrote:
> librarian in any public library. Are the two job functions materially that
> different that they require two different programs of instruction? Is my wife
> with her completed classes with the last two in progress, and three years
> experience as a clerk in the library less qualified than a classroom teacher who
> has moved over to become an official media specialist?
I vowed I would not get into this discussion. And when I read the first
part of your post, I nodded. I agree, lack of consistency in our
profession might be part of the problem we're experiencing. But so is
lack of understanding about what it is we really do as, I believe, y our
post demonstrated. Not only are preparation requirements many and
varied, so are our responsibilities and expectations.
I've been a teacher-librarian for 16 years now. About 90% of that
time has been spent providing direct instruction and functioning as
a teacher. Most of those years I taught the same number of instructional
hours and minutes as every classroom teacher in my building. This last
year was the first y ear ever where that was not the case tho next
year I will see my instructional time expand dramatically -- as I
so wish because I believe instruction is my priority as a school
teacher-librarian (which yes, can be very different from being a
public librarian).
Now and then I find time to do "librarian" kinds of things (like
this week now that school is out and I am alone in the library). And
some of those "things" draw heavily upon my experience as a teacher.
Collection development, for example, relies heavily upon my knowledge
of not only curriculum and standards but on instructional practices
too. Supporting a school that embraces constructivist approaches
is different from supporting a school where behaviorist practices
take priority, especially if one is working from a limited budget
as most of us are.
J. Rathbun, Librarian | "You may say I'm a dreamer,
Mojave High School | but I'm not the only one..."
Clark County School District |
Las Vegas, Nevada | John Lennon
Email: jrathbun@orednet.org |
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