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Gail and Carol, I agree with you both; however, I also hold academia accountable for the misperceptions and utter ignorance teachers and administrators have of media specialists and media programs in general. I most definitely agree that we need more PhD's among our ranks but how can we realistically expect this when 50 states have 50 different standards for the certification of a media specialist; many do not even require Master's degrees? I feel every day that I am viewed as what I like to call "The Book Gleaner Lightbulb Librarian"; that is, when I'm not "babysitting", I'm the book lady and overhead bulb dispenser. This is why so many of us are defensive and grasping for valid research in order to be taken seriously. Why after working so hard to earn a graduate degree, do I need to convince a teacher that I am more than a walking and talking print encyclopedia? The answer to our image problem, I believe, begins with college teacher education programs. Why is it teachers stare blankly at me when I utter, apparently in a foreign tongue, the words “information literacy”? Wisconsin actually does (or did) require pre-service teachers to take an entire course on the role of the school library media program. We are required to take many education courses for obvious reasons, but why can a classroom teacher who has no clue as to what we do be allowed to teach in the media center, yet I can't enter a classroom? Doesn't this negate and invalidate almost all that we do? I, for one, have firmly believed that until LIS professors and department chairs start advocating for us by suggesting that Ed. Depts. require teachers in training to learn what it is we do; how we all work together in a school to further higher order thinking in our students, then we will forever be trying to prove our worth. Laura Brooks Media Specialist Northville Schools brooksla@northville.k12.mi.us -------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 --------------------------------------------------------------------