Pondering the question of outdated, weeded, obsolete, incorrect materials once
again, I grit my teeth and call upon the spirit of Cassie Logan, the narrator of
Mildred Taylor's Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry. I recall an incident in the novel in
which the children are excited to be receiving school books for the first time.
However, Cassie's younger brother--the fastidious Little Man--enrages the teacher
when he asks for a clean book. Little Man accepts his book when he sees that all
the books "were badly worn and that the gray edges of the pages had been marred by
pencils, crayons, and ink." Then Little Man reads the inside of the book, flings it
to the ground, and begins to shake "with indignant anger." Cassie looks inside her
own book to see what has infuriated Little Man. She reads that the books had
belonged to another school and had been given to the all-black Great Faith
Elementary School when the white children "didn't want 'em no more." Cassie
attempts to explain thi!
s to th
e teacher, but Miss Crocker does not accept the explanation. Miss Crocker will whip
Little Man and Cassie must take a stand:
"Miss Crocker," I said, "I don't want my book neither."
The switch landed hard upon Little Man's upturned bottom. Miss Crocker looked
questioningly at me as I reached up to her desk and placed the book upon it. The
she swung the switch five more times and, discovering that Little Man had no
intention of crying, ordered him up.
"All right, Cassie," she sighed, turning to me, "Come on and get yours."
Little Man and Cassie will not accept the status quo; they would rather take the
switch. They know that they deserve the best--new books, selected for them,
reflecting them, their culture, their needs, their interests. Like Cassie and
Little Man, I'll turn down used books for my library -- and I'll not collect used
books for other libraries -- and I’ll take the switch if I must
(Taylor, Mildred. Roll Of Thunder, Hear My Cry. New York:Penguin, 1976. pp. 21-27)
************************************
Debra Gniewek, Librarian
CRHS South
Holland, PA
vm: 215-944-1175
fax: 215-944-1144
dgniewek@crsd.org
dgniewek@comcast.net
************************************
-------------- Original message ----------------------
From: Shonda Brisco <sbrisco@FWCDS.ORG>
> It seems that the schools (that are more well-to-do) that I've been associated
> with feel the need to also support programs / schools by sending all of their
> outdated, weeded, obsolete, incorrect materials to foreign countries....because,
> they need them, of course! There also seems to be a "need" to send worn, torn,
> dirty, and outdated fiction to the homeless shelters because they'll use
> "anything they can get."
>
> I have been extremely adamant about NOT allowing this to happen when I'm weeding
> (if I can keep the withdrawn books within my sight). My thoughts are that if
> these books are being withdrawn because they are not good enough for our
> students to use for research OR if they are not used / read because they are
> outdated, dirty, torn, or abused, then why send them to a homeless shelter or to
> a foreign country's school?
>
> While we have had great budgets in our schools, there seems to be this misnomer
> that the "trash" that we would normally discard is okay for those who are in
> need. This really burns me....I would much rather provide a "buy one-get one
> free" book fair and ask that any "free titles" be provided as NEW titles to
> these groups than to send the outdated, worn, worthless materials that we feel
> is inferior for our student to others because they need materials for
> instruction / reading.
>
> With "friends" like this stocking libraries (or organizational book shelves), we
> don't need politicians!
>
> Just an opinion....
>
> ~Shonda
>
> Shonda Brisco, MLIS
> US / Technology Librarian
> 4200 Country Day Lane
> Fort Worth Country Day School
> Fort Worth, TX
> 817.732.7718 ext. 339
>
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Please note: All LM_NET postings are protected by copyright law.
You can prevent most e-mail filters from deleting LM_NET postings
by adding LM_NET@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU to your e-mail address book.
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/
* LM_NET Archive: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/archive/
* EL-Announce with LM_NET Select: http://elann.biglist.com/sub/
* LM_NET Supporters: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/ven.html
--------------------------------------------------------------------
LM_NET
Mailing List Home