Hi folks:
I was asked by a couple of folks to post a hit of the advice I received. The
original posting came from the fact that I received a note from a parent suggesting
I wasn't monitoring the children's book selections closely enough as her
kindergartner came home with a book with the word "stupid" in it. I was able to put
together a response using the advice of many who answered my plea for assistance
and it went over quite well with the parent. I gave the parent kudos for paying
attention to what their child was reading, but also indicated that I, as the
librarian, was not comfortable telling children what they could and couldn't check
out when they were choosing from books judged appropriate by the professional
standards of my practice. I did tell her that she was well within her rights as a
parent to share their family standards with their child and if he brings home a
book that falls somewhere outside of those standards, she can explain why it does
and ask him to try again. I gave options of coming in during her child's book
check-out time and/or preselecting books by accessing the online catalog.
Thanks for the help...and here's a hit of the responses:
Does your school have web-based catalog like Destiny? If so, then I would suggest
that Mom and her child review books online that she would like her child to check
out. They could print out the bookbag before she comes to the library. I agree that
this request is over the top.
***
When we have had a situation of this nature with a young child, many of whom are
not reading themselves, we have chosen to put the ball back into the parent's
court. Our response goes something like this: "As the parent of your child, you
have the right to decide what you read to your child. If you feel a book your child
has chosen from the library is inappropriate for your family in any way, you have
the right to return that book without reading it to your child. You also have the
right to change the story to meet your family beliefs and rules. Please feel free
to do that at any time. If you are concerned about the books your child brings
home, please feel free to read them before sharing them with your child. Thank
you."
We find by doing this, we are no longer responsible, beyond our selection policy,
for the books this child checks out as long as they are age-appropriate. We also
feel the responsibility is put back on the parent, where it should be. Good luck!
***
When in an elementary, I would tell the parent when their child's class checked out
books and invited them to come up and supervise their child's selection. Her
individual specifications are much stricter than the selection policy that the
School Board gave us. While I totally supported her right to control what her child
read, I did not have the time to preview the books that each child checked out and
determine if it met the guidelines established by their parents.
You might suggest to use it as a teaching moment. What other way could the
character have handled it? What other words could the character have used? Why do
we agree that this was not the way to handle the character's situation?
***
Are you sure you want to get in this fight?
I would certainly agree to not check out ANY books to her student if that is the
parents wish. It is not your job to screen material for individual students, merely
to follow your district selection policy. I would attempt to have that conversation
in front of the student, as well, so she understands the reason she may not check
out materials.
***
I know this is a flip answer to a serious question but maybe someone should send
this parent a copy of the 1st amendment.
***
" As a Media Specialist I cannot tell children what books they can and cannot check
out. However as Js mother, you do have that right. Please feel free to come in
during the last 10 minutes of J's media class to help him find a book that you
would enjoy reading together. You might want to take J to the public library and
show him the types of books you think he should be reading.
***
I don't have a letter, but I have a suggestion that you could put into your
correspondence. Ask the parent to provide a list of books she will allow her child
to read and confine the child to those books. It's not a perfect world so there are
no perfect answers, but at least she gets an acceptable title, and you can get on
with your job.
***
What I have told parents when issues like this come up, is that I would not presume
to tell their child what to read - that is their prerogative as a parent. If your
child chooses something you find you don't want him/her to have, please send it
back and have them choose something else. But this is an issue for their family to
deal with; not mine. I present it as a prerogative too precious for me to become an
arbiter of - I try never to usurp their role as a shaper of their child's psyche.
***
It is called 'self selection' for a reason. Most Kinder's don't know how to read
what they are choosing anyway, great hers knows how to read 'stupid!'
just my $0.02!
***
Terri L. Jeffrey
Library Media Specialist
Little Cedars Elementary School
Snohomish, WA 98296
tljeffrey@comcast.net
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