As we say in Quaker meeting "This friend speaks my mind."
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From: School Library Media & Network Communications
[mailto:LM_NET@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU] On Behalf Of Herb Wilburn
Sent: Thursday, January 29, 2009 6:29 AM
To: LM_NET@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU
Subject: RANT: [LM_NET] BOOK: Sir Fartsalot hunts the Booger by Bolger
OK, so I've been snowed in for three days, maybe that's why I'm firing
this
off this morning. But come on now, I'm really tired of the titles and
trends
of adolescent potty mouth books that get placed in our libraries. We
moan
and complain about the lack of simple everyday decency and manners in
our
culture, yet we stock books with titles like this!
Before you start with the "it gets boys to read" argument, I'll give you
that. But to assume that's all that boys will read is just an extension
of
the problem that got us into the reading gender gap to begin with,
simplistic answers that don't require real involvement (read teaching).
Boys
will, anyone will, read if we give them good stories to read. Yes
different
groups have different interests, but those interests go to storyline,
not
the quality of the writing. Sure, kids will read booger and farts all
day
and giggle till the cows come home. They'll eat all the m&ms you leave
on
the table too, but we don't serve that at lunch. We need to select
books
that have good writing, good stories, and get involved with them with
our
kids, boys if that's where you see the problem.
It seems to me that, especially in the elementary level, dumbing down is
just surrendering. It's our job to teach, to lead, to lift our kids up
through education. To give in to the lowest common denominator just to
have
participation is a copout and a sad state of affairs.
I began a new position this year in a different elementary school. Our
circulation numbers as of the end of January surpass last years totals.
I
haven't bought the lastest graphic novels, I pulled the Butt series off
the
shelves, and I did purchase some new books. But Time Warp Trio is as low
on
the culture meter as I'll go. Our numbers are up because my emphasis is
on
the kids. They are welcome in our library and they know it. I am
interested
in them, but they know I won't pander to them.
I've always felt that the worst insult is to be treated as common. To
expect
our kids to be just average is just awful. To Frederick Muller, this is
not
meant to be an attack on you or your review. I enjoy reading your
reviews on
the listserv. This genre of books just hits a nerve with me. Keep up the
work.
Herb Wilburn,
LMS, NBCT
Sandy Hook Elementary School
Strasburg, VA
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