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Dear Netters, There have been a series of events with my principal that culminated yesterday in a threatening letter. It started (from her point of view) a couple of years ago when parents complained because kids weren't taking out books. I had delayed due to the amount of work to get students into their current rooms on the computer and in the rolladex of patron bar codes and get shelf marker cards (glorified name tags) made for 700 kids. I was having parent volunteers do that, as there was no way for me to do it and to teach all the classes. (I'm in prep coverage rotation and I get no time at the beginning or at the end of school for opening or closing jobs. I'm supposed to start up on day one). She started by saying I had to come in before school started to do this work. Union regs meant she couldn't push that, tho. We finally worked out a way. At the time I felt a bit bewildered at having something I'd been doing for seven years questioned and made out to be a horrendous irresponsibility. This year, everyone was taking out books by the fourth week of school (learning rules and routines for the first graders, everyone else started the second week.) Except for one first grade class that had no parent volunteer and where I'd tried doing a limited checkout, but stopped it in the middle of the attempt when it became clear to me that there was no way I could go behind the desk and leave the class to its impulses all over the library. I worked with the library volunteer coordinator to get someone in, sending letters home asking for help (with no response). Also several kindergarten classes weren't taking out books yet because each had several kids who couldn't even sit and listen to a story. Principal came and observed the class (we had parent volunteers that day and books were being checked out.) Then she wrote a note asking about what she'd heard that the kids hadn't been taking out books. I met with her and told her what the situation was. She said that under no circumstances should I depend on volunteers for book circulation, that I needed to figure out a way for them to take out books. Such as limiting their selection and have them do some art or craft thing at the tables while I had them come up one at a time to check out their books. The impression I got was that I needed to send books home with kids no matter what. Didn't matter what books, I gathered. Just send them home with books. To say nothing of what it would do to trying to establish a routine. Ok, I said, I understand. Adapt in any way possible for a class to take out books. (Several years ago I had a first grade class who could not walk around the library and select books. so I filled boxes with books and put them on each table. For the whole year kids picked books from the box. They even had to be assigned seats. There is no way I could have done this alone. I had a terrific volunteer who pretty much co-taught the class with me. Don't know if principal was aware of this.) So I thought that was done with and was trying to calm my anger that none of what I do in that library seems to matter to the principal unless a parent complains. I was just about putting it behind me when I got a letter in my box from her going through the whole talk we'd had, angry that this had come up AGAIN. She thought she had made it clear two years ago that I couldn't let book circulation be dependent on parent volunteers. " You may not deny students the ability to take home books because a volunteer is not available." (I'm not allowed to say that I can't teach without parent volunteers, although I say all the time that they make the program I have in the library possible.) She wrote "If you need further support in designing lessons that enable you to manage both students and check out procedures, I expect you to ask for help. Both Jon (Assist Prin) and I are available for support. .....In the future , if students are not allowed to borrow books during a regularly scheduled library time, I may be forced to take disciplinary action." Perspective please? comments? Advice on response? She has gone on these rampages before. Two years ago she was on my case all year, not just the circ thing at the beginning. I am hoping desparately that this will not be another year like that, but my hopes are not high. Thanks for listening! Johanna -------------------------------------------------------------------- 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://www.eduref.org/lm_net/ Archive: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/archive/ EL-Announce with LM_NET Select: http://elann.biglist.com/el-announce/ LM_NET Supporters: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/ven.html --------------------------------------------------------------------