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-----Original Message----- This Michael Barone article on US News & World Reports' website =3D provides an interesting view of the state of American education at: http://www.usnews.com/usnews/issue/030512/opinion/12pol.htm -------------------------------------------------- I appreciate the fact that this article was posted to the list. I like to read articles about education even when I don't agree with the author. But I would not characterize this as an "interesting view". This is the same old blame the teachers and the unions argument that has been used over and over again. We read on LM_NET and on Callib (the California library list) how librarians and library programs are being cut to balance budgets. Funding at my school for the library was over $65,000 last year (state, district, and site combined), next year I may have $11,000-- unless there are more cuts this summer. We know from the research that money spent on libraries correlates with higher student achievement but libraries take the first and deepest cuts. We know from the research that kids need lots of books to become readers but how many books will I be able to buy after I pay for all of our service and support agreements and database licenses? We know from the research that a balanced instructional approach with a well trained instructor is the best way to teach literacy but schools are being forced to move towards pre-packaged, teacher-proof programs that place almost all of the emphasis on phonics (and cost schools an arm and a leg). Politicians, left and right, dictate what and how we should teach. Every six to ten years a =93new=94 approach is mandated. And = when test scores don't go up the teachers and the unions are at fault? =20 Lest you think this is a political diatribe, I blame both the Republicans and the Democrats (our state house and both houses of the legislature are in the hands of the Democrats). And I am not always happy with what the NEA and CTA do in my name. I am tired though of reading the uninformed opinions of pundits and politicians making pronouncements about what is wrong with education. What type of research has Mr. Barone done to formulate his opinions about schools ("soft America")? He makes blanket statements about high school graduates based on his experiences at McDonalds. He makes a vague reference to test scores without providing specifics. How about the National Assessment of Educational Progress? Does he know that those scores have remained constant or have increased for decades? Even in "soft" California where our schools have become ever more crowded, more diverse, and more run-down the scores remain steady. Even those old bugaboos "Whole Language" and Bilingual Education didn't bring them crashing down. I think that is a testament to teachers who teach so many students with so few resources, and to librarians who keep programs running and children reading with little funding or support, and to library techs and volunteers who keep libraries open in schools that don't value our programs. As librarians, teachers of information literacy, we should be skeptics when we read articles like this. And we should teach our students to be skeptics as well. We should ask for proof when someone tells us what the problem is. We should tell Mr. Barone, and other self-appointed experts, what my high school math teacher told us every day, "show your work!" ---- Tony Doyle, Librarian Livingston High School 1617 Main St. Livingston, CA 95334 209-358-2948 tdoyle@muhsd.k12.ca.us <Http://www.lhs.muhsd.k12.ca.us/library/index.htm> "You don't have to burn books to destroy a culture. Just get people to stop reading them."-- Ray Bradbury --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.476 / Virus Database: 273 - Release Date: 4/24/2003 =20 =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-=-=- All LM_NET postings are protected by copyright law. To change your LM_NET status, e-mail to: listserv@listserv.syr.edu In the message write EITHER: 1) SIGNOFF LM_NET 2) SET LM_NET NOMAIL 3) SET LM_NET MAIL 4) SET LM_NET DIGEST * Allow for confirmation. LM_NET Help & Information: http://ericir.syr.edu/lm_net/ Archive: http://askeric.org/Virtual/Listserv_Archives/LM_NET.shtml LM_NET Select/EL-Announce: http://www.cuenet.com/archive/el-announce/ LM_NET Supporters: http://ericir.syr.edu/lm_net/ven.html =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=-=-