No, the AASL did not endorse the entire ISTE plan; they did, however,
mislead anyone who reads their statement (in the first paragraph) by stating
that libraries are poised to begin the process of implementing the
recommendations made by ISTE. For most individuals who quickly scan the
document (administrators, budget directors, etc.) it appears that school
libraries are doing fine and can continue to move forward. Wrong.
I don't think we are "throwing in the towel" through all of this discussion,
but rather asking that we actually be "given the towel" to at least use once
in a while---we aren't even mentioned in the ISTE as a part of the
techno-savvy professionals that might be implementing these plans---it's
only in the AASL statement that the librarian is mentioned as
"techno-savvy"---and in many schools, it will be the librarians who will
implement these programs, ready or not.
I am optimistic that librarians will do something both individually and as a
group to continue correcting these misled individuals and organizations;
however, we first need to be recognized as a part of the answer to the
problem. I am finding that many professionals out there don't realize we
have anything to do with technology implementation and so, we aren't
included. It's the traditional library mind-set that many can't release
from their memory.
It is that mindset that pulls us out of the entire program and causes furor
among librarians who realize that "what keeps this boat afloat isn't the
captain yelling the commands on deck....it's the thousands of individuals
rowing below deck."
Keep rowing....or we'll all sink!
~Shonda Brisco
TVS MS / US Librarian
Fort Worth, TX
sbrisco021@charter.net
----- Original Message -----
From: "Sara Kelly Johns" <sarakellyjohns@YAHOO.COM>
To: <LM_NET@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU>
Sent: Thursday, January 20, 2005 5:22 AM
Subject: Re: [LM_NET] AASL on National Education Technology Plan
> The AASL Board did NOT endorse every word of the plan
> but did decide to use what is in there to make the
> connection between what we as library media
> specialists do hold as important (information literacy
> instruction, for instance) and the document (since the
> writers did not. WE ARE the tech-savvy professionals
> in the schools that students depend on daily to assist
> them and it's time to point that out in a positive
> statement to those who wrote that plan.
>
> I see the tenets of our Information Power standards
> throughout the plan and do wish they were labeled as
> such. But WE know it and need to USE this plan and our
> activism (not our whining) to help shape the state
> plans that must be written, state by state. It is
> important to know the shortcomings of the plan in
> relation to the state of the libraries we work in and
> the necessity to teach those "tech-savvy" students how
> to use and manage that information they locate so
> easily.
>
> California libraries are in trouble, as are WAY too
> many across the nation, but we cannot just throw up
> our hands and give up, but use our passion (and I have
> read lots of it in the reactions to the AASL statement
> that have been posted) to get involved in the writing
> of the state technology plans. They could actually
> make a difference.
>
> Maybe I am one of those eternal optimists (probably
> am) but I am also stubborn and will not give up any
> opportunity to advocate for students and our
> profession. My life would be lots less stressful if I
> could "let someone else do it" but somehow I can't and
> hope that those who are passionate about this
> technology plan will not be "too busy" to find inroads
> to participation on their state level. Debate and
> discussion are healthy to this and all issues that
> matter to our students.
>
> Best from the frigid Northeast, Sara Kelly Johns,
> Region II Director, AASL Board
> --- Peter Milbury <pmilbury@IIS.SYR.EDU> wrote:
>
>> 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
>>
> ............................................................
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>
> =====
> Lake Placid Middle/Senior HS LMC
> 250 Main Street
> Lake Placid, NY 12946
> 518-523-2474, ext. 4132
> FAX: 518-523-4861
> johns@northnet.org
> SaraKJohns@aol.com
>
> "Information is the currency of democracy." -- Thomas Jefferson
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