Re: [LM_NET] SHARE: Librarians Disappearing in Georgia

[Linda Martin <lindamartin423@GMAIL.COM>]

Note that the article linked from the Georgian Times refers to the Republic
of Georgia in the former Soviet Union, not the state.

On 8/13/07, Bryn Samuels <brynmarie@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
> RE: The Georgia Rep's response to the SKILLS Act.
>
> Wow.  And this article just out, as well:
> http://www.geotimes.ge/index.php?m=home&newsid=6147
>
> "Librarians Disappearing in Georgia" from the Georgian Times.  Not
> directly related to teacher librarians, but certainly in danger if this
> trend, and lack of legislation, continues.
>
> Bryn Samuels
> Library Assistant
> University School of Nashville
> bsamuels@usn.org
> scholarlybrio.blogspot.com
>
>
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----
>
> From: Linda Martin <lindamartin423@GMAIL.COM>
>
> To: LM_NET@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU
>
> Sent: Sunday, August 12, 2007 7:27:11 PM
>
> Subject: Re: US Dept of Ed. School 2.0
>
>
>
> I think we had better get on board and bombard our legislators to support
>
> the SKILLS act.  One of our local librarians sent a note to her
> legislator.
>
> Read his response below, and to quote the movie "The Fly",  "Be
> afraid.  Be
>
> very afraid."
>
>
>
> From Rep. John Linder, GA
>
>
>
> Thank you for contacting me to express your support for H.R. 2864, the
>
> "Strengthening Kids' Interest in Learning and Libraries (SKILLs) Act." I
>
> appreciate hearing from you, although I regret that we disagree on this
>
> particular issue.
>
>
>
>
>
> H.R. 2864 was introduced by Representative Raul Grijalva (D-AZ) on June
> 26,
>
> 2007. This bill amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA)
> of
>
> 1965 to require that all public schools, from the elementary through high
>
> school level, that receive Federal funds under the ESEA employ at least
> one
>
> highly qualified school library media specialist. This legislation is
>
> currently pending before the House Education and Labor Committee, where it
>
> awaits further consideration.
>
>
>
>
>
> Quite frankly, I question the need for a library media specialist in every
>
> public school, at all levels of instruction. While I appreciate the
>
> importance of employing these specialists in high schools, given that high
>
> school students regularly engage in academic research in preparation for
>
> college, I do not see the same need in elementary schools or middle
> schools.
>
> A fourth grade student has little need for a highly trained library
>
> specialist who can teach advanced research techniques. What the fourth
>
> grader
>
> needs is a librarian who can make reading enjoyable and spur the student
> to
>
> read as much as possible. Instilling a love of reading in a child does not
>
> require an advanced certification in library media studies.
>
>
>
>
>
> Instead of burdening states with "one size fits all" Federal directives,
>
> I would prefer to have state and local authorities decide whether or not
> it
>
> is economically feasible or necessary to have library media specialists in
>
> schools. As such, should H.R. 2864 come to the House floor for a vote, I
>
> would be inclined to oppose it.
>
>
>
>
>
> Thank you again for contacting me. If I may be of any further assistance
> to
>
> you, please do not hesitate to call on me.
>
>
>
>      Librarians as a group are not very outgoing people.  I know that is a
>
> stereotype, but if we were more  activist, we would be more responsive to
>
> calls for action on items like the SKILLS Act.  We had better start
> letting
>
> our representatives hear us roar.  Our jobs are at stake.  How many other
>
> legislators are under the misguided impression that fourth graders don't
> do
>
> research?  When the president meets privately with groups of talk radio
>
> hosts who propose the dismantling of the Department of Education and
>
> criticize "the failure of government schools", you know what type of
>
> feedback he gets.  We need to make sure that legislators are given
> accurate
>
> information.  I know LM_NET is not a political forum and I am not
> espousing
>
> a political viewpoint.  I am simply calling for a professional response to
> a
>
> frightening situation.
>
>
>
> Off my soapbox now...
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> On 8/9/07, Laura Brooks <brooksla@northville.k12.mi.us> wrote:
>
> >
>
> > Where are the library and information specialists? Apparently, our
>
> > government has been hard at work on developing a School 2.0 paradigm
> with
>
> > flip charts, maps, bookmarks, etc. While there is a technology strand to
>
> > their retooling of schools, it seems largely systems based. No where is
>
> > there mention of how to retrieve and use all the 2.0 based info in this
>
> > "brave new world". In other words, we don't exist.
>
> >
>
> > I'm not alarmist by nature, but this conceptual model concerns me. Be
> sure
>
> > to check out the school 2.0 learning community model map:
>
> > http://www.school2-0.org/map.htm (warning- it's 3.5 MB).
>
> >
>
> > Find the elementary and middle schools; neither has a LMC! The Library
> is
>
> > easily spotted in the High School, but I studied this map long and hard
>
> > before spotting the "librarian". It's the person standing at a table
> merely
>
> > suggesting that students try an e-book. I guess we should be happy that
>
> > we've graduated to keepers of electronic books instead of print only. If
> you
>
> > really squint, I think you can see that information specialist sporting
> a
>
> > bun (sorry, guys).
>
> >
>
> > Why wasn't AASL a key part of this planning? Anyway, I find it
> disturbing
>
> > that the Dept. of Ed. would overlook us in this manner. Any thoughts?
>
> >
>
> > Laura
>
> >
>
> > Laura Brooks
>
> > Library Media Teacher
>
> > Amerman Elementary School
>
> > Northville, MI
>
> > brooksla@northville.k12.mi.us
>
> >
>
> > "Unless someone like you cares a whole lot,
>
> > nothing is going to get better. It's not."
>
> > -The Lorax, Dr. Seuss
>
> >
>
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>
>
> --
>
> Linda Martin
>
> Teacher Librarian and Storyteller
>
> Northeast Georgia Library Media Specialist of the Year
>
> Gainesville, GA
>
> lindamartin423@gmail.com
>
> www.lindamartin.us
>
>
>
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-- 
Linda Martin
Teacher Librarian and Storyteller
Northeast Georgia Library Media Specialist of the Year
Gainesville, GA
lindamartin423@gmail.com
www.lindamartin.us

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