I have to agree about the gaming during class time. I think it is a bad
precedent to set and so I don't allow it. I do, however, have a full house
of gamers before school and after school. There are several reasons not to
allow gaming during class time:
1. The computers are educational tools.
2. We have a minimum number, often not enough for every student who needs
one to work. How can I allow students to tie them up for gaming?
3. Once you allow students to game if they say they have no work to do, you
will find yourself with a lot more students who are suddenly done with all
their work.
4. I try to avoid "grey" areas as much as possible, so I have a fast rule
that there is no gaming during class hours.
5. Sometimes gaming on the Internet or the downloading of such games steals
bandwidth from the network and slows everyone down.
6. Lastly, I don't wish to promote the library as a hangout, but rather as a
place to discover and learn.
I have absolutely no problems attracting students to my library. Quite the
contrary. We have a very comfortable, welcoming environment. I should note
that I do have Manga books, joke books, comic books, and books of the Cirque
du Freak type. It's not that I don't want to be progressive. I think I am
very progressive in the services I offer and the way I interact with the
students. I just don't want gaming during class time. Students that have
real work to do appreciate that. And my student aides are stern enforcers of
this policy.
Marsha Redd
Librarian, Kelloggsville High School
Grand Rapids, MI
marsharedd@hotmail.com
Education is not a goal; it is a life-long process. Everyone is a student.
Everyone is a teacher.
----Original Message Follows----
From: janet perry <perrybros@HOTMAIL.COM>
Reply-To: janet perry <perrybros@HOTMAIL.COM>
To: LM_NET@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU
Subject: Re: [LM_NET] Games, no way
Date: Thu, 4 May 2006 13:41:07 +0000
I agree that we, as librarians, need to keep current with the technologies
that kids are using, or we could very easily become like the
dinosaurs-extinct. However, I don't see why I should be letting the kids do
computer games or instant messaging in the library. Before computers we
didn't let them play cards or other games, and we didn't let them use the
phone to call their friends during school. What is the difference?
My thought is that if I let the kids play games in the library, the library
would become a video arcade, and, once again I must point out, I am a
professional librarian. If the district wants a video arcade, they can hire
a minimum wage employee with a club to monitor the students.
I know there are circumstances where games on or off the computer are used
as educational tools. I am not making any judgments aboutl what teachers do
in their classrooms. I just know, that in my situation, many of the
students who come to the library during their "study hall" have no intention
of studying. If I added games and IM as an option, it would really be a
free-for-all. We do allow kids to use the computers in the library for
email or other personal things during study hall. However, we now have a
policy that if you are on the ineligible list, you may only use the computer
for school work. I envy all of you who work in libraries where kids
actually come in to use the library for educational reasons, not as a social
gathering place, or just to get out of study hall. I spend a lot of my time
"babysitting" kids who can't seem to keep themselves under control unless
I'm sitting right there. Of course, there is a plus side to this
babysitting. I have gotten a lot of books in my collection read while
sitting. So, I guess there can be good along with the bad.
As always, we just have to do the best we can with what we have to work
with. If we remember to keep the kids benefit first, we'll probably do a
good job.
Off my soap box for this week.
Janet Perry, Librarian
Cerro Gordo CUSD 100, Cerro Gordo, IL
perrybros@hotmail.com
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