Re: [LM_NET] AASL on National Education Technology Plan

[Peter Milbury <pmilbury@IIS.SYR.EDU>]

Dear LM_NET,

The AASL statement says: "Well-stocked and well-staffed school library
media programs are strategically poised to support the major action steps
and recommendations identified in the plan."

I would like to invite all who had a part in writing the National
Education Technology Plan to come to California and see for themselves how
the above statement is a ludicrous fantasy. (The AASL Board can come too!)
It sounds like the writer is living in another world or another lifetime.
Out here it is like an underdeveloped country with regards to school
libraries. We have been decimated!

The AASL wrote: "As the technology plan illustrates in its description of
ideal information management, school libraries are an integral component
in connecting all information and technologies."

I tried and tried to find that statement in the Technology Plan, but it
did not seem to appear. In fact, in the entire document I found no mention
of "school libraries", and the word libraries only showed up four times.
Try taking a look at it.
See: http://www.nationaledtechplan.org/theplan/NETP_Final.pdf

Nor does the term "information literacy" show up. Only once does the term
"computer literacy" appear. And the Plan makes the colossal mis-statement:
"Todays students, of almost any age, are far ahead of their teachers in
computer literacy. They prefer to access subject information on the
Internet, where it is more abundant, more accessible and more up-to-date."

Does the above statement imply "more up to date than their libraries"? Who
in the world that works with students on a daily basis would ever agree to
such a statement? What an absurdity!

It is so sad to see the AASL's bland reaction to this mediocre document!
Even worse for ISTE, who gloats over their participation in the creation
of the plan. What a disappointment!

Peter Milbury, LM_NET Co-Moderator   pmilbury@iis.syr.edu
School Librarian/CA TeleMentor, Chico HS, Chico, CA
............................................................
LM_NET: The Voice of the Library Media Community Since 1992
Archive: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/archive/
EL-Announce-LM_NET Select: http://elann.biglist.com/el-announce/
LM_NET Supporters: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/ven.html
.........................................................

--------------------------------------------------------------------
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
--------------------------------------------------------------------