AMEN, I fight this battle everyday with a select group of teachers. They pull this
not only on librarians, but the secretaries, and other teachers, etc. These are
the same teachers that don't accept this type of behavior in their students. I
have stood up for my program and refuse to be a door mat, but I also get the
reputation of being hard to work with. I've talked to my administrators, past and
present, until I'm blue in the face and while they feel my pain -- nothing is done.
Because "they" are the squeaky wheel not only to the principal, but in the
teacher's lounge, and to the central office.
I've come to the conclusion that it is easier to have an unhappy librarian rather
than an unhappy staff.
Please let me know if I can be of further assistance.
Thanks,
Curtis L. Clark
Library Media Specialist
Harrisonville Middle School
601 South Highland
Harrisonville, MO 64701
816 380 7654 #5245
Fax: 816 884 5733
clarkc@harrisonville.k12.mo.us
Procrastination,
I've been told,
Is the source of all my sorrow,
I don't know what it means,
I'll look it up tomorrow. (maybe)
-----Original Message-----
From: School Library Media & Network Communications
[mailto:LM_NET@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU] On Behalf Of Shonda Brisco
Sent: Wednesday, April 02, 2008 6:59 AM
To: LM_NET@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU
Subject: Re: Vent w/ signature
And then there is the component within the librarian's evaluation
rubric which states: "Works cooperatively with teachers and others;
provides materials, resources, and materials when asked."
So....do you document that the teachers do NOT plan ahead and share
their information with you so that you CAN work cooperatively, share
resources, and provide support when asked? If teachers complain to
the administration because you aren't cooperative and don't provide
them with the resources they need when they need them, does your
administrator understand YOUR situation or is the teacher "always
right?"
I think there are many librarians who are placed in a position of
servitude, regardless of their own schedules, workloads, and
commitments. There are situations when librarians are asked to "stay
a little longer in the day" to compile resources or complete work that
is needed by others without any regard to the fact that the person(s)
who placed the librarian in this situation is / was the teacher who
failed to plan ahead. However, when librarians complain that the
teacher doesn't plan ahead, is s/he looked at as NOT being a team
player? not cooperating? not going "above and beyond" the call of
duty?
Yes, administrative support is the important factor necessary to
relieve this pressure; however, when several teachers fail to plan
ahead, don't contact the librarian in time to allow for the
compilation of resources, or expect to always be the "top priority" on
the list of things to do for the librarian, then there is a no-win
situation. Sure you may have a few that do the right thing, but those
who don't are usually the ones who "squeak" the loudest....and the
squeaky wheel gets the grease. Those who don't plan ahead, don't have
their lessons prepared, don't contact the librarian in advance, or
expect the librarian to share, collect, or provide resources at a
moment's notice are usually the ones who complain the most...and they
share those complaints with everyone. (Yes, that person is in your
school...and s/he wants something from you right now but you can't
provide it. Shame on you!)
It happens...it's not professional...but I'm seeing this much too
often in this fast-paced educational environment.
Just some thoughts.
~Shonda
--
Shonda Brisco, BA Ed., MLIS
Library Media / Technology Specialist
Weatherford, TX 76086
Digital Bookends wiki / blog:
http://digitalbookends.pbwiki.com
http://shonda.edublogs.org/
sbrisco@gmail.com
Resources for Texas School Librarians:
http://txschoollibrarians.ning.com/
http://txschoollibrarians.wikispaces.com/
"Digital Resources" columnist
School Library Journal
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