SHAMELESSY copied from Joyce Valenza’s blog!!

I promise I have tweeted it but I am not a flame on the map–yet.

Joyce Valenza Ph.D

Lisa’s Act.ly petition is catching fire! Fan it now.

March 6, 2010

Don’t let the fire go out!  Those of you who doubt the power of social networking, please drop your reluctance right now.  It’s time to try a little social network activism!  It’s time to get viral.  It’s time to tweet change.

192 tweets

tweet it

The White House: Include Librarians, 1:1, & Broadband 4 all kids #futureready

Lisa Layera Brunkan’s petition is literally catching fire.  One of the Spokane Moms,  Lisa woke up one day and had become a grassroots activist for school libraries & information technology.  She has been working tirelessly ever since to ensure that all children have access to school libraries and through them, 21st century literacies and skills.

I will follow her anywhere.

When Lisa and her colleagues begin a brilliant initiative we must help out.  No excuses.

Lisa’s latest activism embraces and exploits the power of social networking.  This week, as WALibraryiMom, she began an Act.ly petition.

If the petition continues to spread, it will get the eyes of the White House.  It must get the eyes of the White House.

Signing, spreading, and keeping the petition alive and on the top of the list,  takes practically no time at all!

So get on Twitter, get your friends on Twitter, get new people to join Twitter, and have them all tweet the following:

Help! RT to petition@WhiteHouse.Gov:Include Librarians, 1:1, & Broadband 4 all kids #futureready http://act.ly/1rb RT to sign RT to sign

Jim Gilliam, one of the founders of Act.ly, explains that it is surprisingly easy to move from outrage to petition:

You sign a petition by tweeting it, and other people can sign the petition just by re-tweeting it. There’s no need to go to the act.ly site, except to start a petition. If you are re-tweeted, you get credit for the referral, and will show up in the “Smokin’ Recruiters” link on act.ly.

We CAN leverage social networking to spread the word. But we need to grow this effort beyond our own community.  Get the people you know who care, those stakeholders whose voices count, to join this effort.  Make it viral for Lisa and for the children who deserve strong school libraries and risk losing them.

This is the perfect time, and the perfect opportunity, and perhaps the perfect forum, for teacher librarians to demonstrate that they know how to use the potential of new media to effect change, to ensure libraries for learners.

Tweet now. This is not optional.

There was an interesting  letter to the editor in our wonderful local paper The Herald here yesterday. The writer nailed it spot on, so I want to share it here. On the same page as this “letter to the editor” was a cartoon outline of child’s head.  Inside the shadowed head, a oval circle dotted line with the distinct shape of scissors cutting along it, removing what could be interpreted as the brain.  The text read something to the effect “Here is the next cut from the education budget.” I wish I had saved yesterday’s paper to snap a photo of it.

As those of you in SC consider primaries and campaigns for upcoming state elections, remember this. If you have a chance, ask candidates about their stance on school funding. If it is an incumbent running for re-election, ask them specifically about Act 388 passed in 2006.

Act 388 has hurt state’s economy

Thank you…for your recent letter expressing dismay at the painful local economy. Mr. H correctly states we are in the “worst economic condition in the 5th Congressional District in a long time.” However, things are bad not only in the 5th District, but also all over South Carolina and the U.S., and we need not look all the way to Washington for the cause. Most of the current financial woes in South Carolina were caused by our state Legislature when it passed Act 388 in 2006.

This act causes immediate and future financial problems for our state. The immediate problems are the loss to the local economy of the dollars earned by those state employees whose salaries are reduced or jobs lost. In Rock Hill alone, the public school district office has lost 20 percent of its personnel and 2 percent of the teachers already. Winthrop University and public school teachers and administrators have been furloughed. More losses will occur due to recent funding decreases, and still further education budget cuts are being considered by the Legislature.

The future problems caused by educational and infrastructure losses in South Carolina are massive. There is a fundamental connection between education and economic success, which was recognized by the 1977 state Legislature when it passed the Education Finance Act. Unfortunately, the state has funded the public schools at the required level only eight of the last 32 years. Winthrop’s funding from the state has been cut from 40 percent of its budget to 13 percent over the last 20 years. Also, there is still talk of closing two-year post-secondary schools, even though most of us are served daily by graduates of York Tech and 65 percent of future jobs in South Carolina are expected to require a two-year degree.

Act 388 must be rescinded or it will continue to wreak havoc.

The source of my tirade

So now I refer back to my previous post from a few days ago (PD on your time, your own dime), as I bemoaned many teacher librarians being denied the opportunity to attend our lone state library conference, the only in state targeting specialized professional development for school librarians.

Can they really do that–afraid so

SC contracts vary in wording, so I cannot say what the phrasing is exactly that gives administrators the right to say no to personal days used for professional development, even if it is self funded, but school policy generally says personal days must be requested no less than two weeks in advance, and must have administrative approval.

Winners and losers across the board

Budget shortfalls have reduced the amount of money schools have for substitutes. Some say that should not effect a school librarian, as typically these kinds of staff don’t need substitutes.  The school librarian, guidance counselor, speech clinician  and more positions are not ones that can really be covered by using a substitute. (Unless these positions are in a fixed schedule position that would mean breaches in supervision, these positions typically do not warrant a substitute.)

But teachers have been told over and over there is no money for substitutes, and so they are being denied attendance to their PD opportunities that take them away from school.  My guess is that administrators are telling all faculty/staff members “no” to be fair in these budget-tight times. That is me trying to look at it from the only logical explanation I can come up with. I’m still very much opposed to the idea that one cannot use personal days as they see fit though.

I know a friend who says their school has all but eliminated substitutes.  The staff are required to sacrifice their planing time to sit in a class where a teacher is absent.  The ones who are frequently absent are asked to sub in a planning period more than those who have few absences. He says that teacher attendance this year has dramatically improved because no one wants to have to use their planning time to cover another absent staff member’s class.

So who is suffering? In the end it is our students.  If we cannot attend state department of education endorsed professional development opportunities so that we might build and enhance our teacher toolbox, our kids are the ones who lose.

More on Act 388 in the news/online:

• Repeal Act 388 August 12, 2009
• ACT 388: Property tax law limits options for area schools September 21, 2009
• S.C. paying piper for Act 388 tax cuts January 14, 2009

FlickrCC Image: ‘Money Hand‘

Tags: Politics, South Carolina

Scott Mcleod popped this in my twitter feed this morning, and all I could think was how can I share this at school?? I would love to burn it to a DVD and put in our player to loop all day on my big plasma in the library. It’s one of those that you hope will open some eyes, preferably to embracing some of the tools you’ve been advocating for at the k12 school level. But my fear is those same eyes would run from it instead. I am so using this soon though, some how–some way!

Created by Jesse Thomas, it does give us pause to think, no?

JESS3 / The State of The Internet from Jesse Thomas on Vimeo.

Tags: Information Literacy, Internet, K12

Coming Monday, March 1st we have another school librarian focused (and led) webinar. A free opportunity–can’t say that for webinars released by ALA or ISTE, most of which come with a small fee, but a fee none the less. The last one featured special guest Mike Eisenberg (of Big6 fame and leadership in the field) and had 85+ people in a chatroom that was flying by. But you don’t have to be scared off by the numbers or the chat—many never even pay it any attention. Just tuning in and listening (and interacting used a webcam and/or computer microphone if one chooses) is enough to fed the brain.

Join me in this powerful webinar –a regular event that will happen at the beginning of each month.

Here is a copy/paste of the details for this Monday:

School Library Web Presence Webinar
Date & Time: March 1st 8pm EASTERN,
Learning Central Posting
Guests: Guests: Buffy Hamilton, Carolyn Foote, Barb Jansen, Christina Bentheim
Hosted by: Gwyneth Jones and Joyce Valenza
Description: How is your library available to students via the web? What is your library web presence in the community? Are you a web wallflower or dancing with the stars – web-wise? A discussion of effective practice and essential elements for making your library instruction, program, and tools more accessible for students and the community.

And here is a poll to take before joining!

.

Image from the TL LIbrarian Virtual Cafe homepage.

Tags: geeksquad, K12, Professional Development, teacher librarian, TLCafe

For the second time today (Thursday, February 25) a member of our SCASL listserv has said they are not allowed to use their personal days to attend our state library conference (SCASL) planned for Charleston, SC March 24-26, 2010.  I am stunned at this.  I really wonder if a school or district can legally deny teachers (and in the case school librarians) use of the personal days to use as one sees fit, EVEN if it is for professional development/conferences.  I can believe a school administrator maybe would ask that you not use them (due to the strain on a budget for substitutes) but I do not believe they can mandate you not use them, or that personal days can be taken away. This just DOES NOT make sense.

Is it subversive to go anyway?

One shared it almost felt subversive to use personal days after being told not too.  How can using personal days for conference be construed as “subversive?” If you are denied using your personal days to attend a conference, this sounds indicative of a larger problem in your district than just finances, substitutes, and district policy. Not sure we are getting the total picture if you feel it is rightful or okay to be denied.  Perhaps with more details about the specific request and why denied, I would understand. I’ll say this, I’m glad I don’t work for the principals who reportedly have denied conference attendance on personal days and the willingness to pay your own way.

I hope you are not alone!

I certainly hope for these two who have been told no to using personal or professional days for what I equivocate to the best professional development in our state for school librarians, your principals and superintendents are foregoing their conferences this summer as well, which I might add are held in more touristy places during high tourism season (and with a higher cost).  They are singletons in their buildings just as much as we are.

Special thanks to my principal and district–I am going!

At the same time, I am overjoyed and very appreciative that I’m allowed to attend, and for the record I always pay for my own registration, travel, and expenses–I have for several years now. It’s tax deductible, and I can make choices I might not otherwise make were it on the school’s dime.

SCASL hears your cries-a virtual experience is in the works!

Those unable to go for whatever reason can rest assured that SCASL is making  efforts again this year to bring a conference experience to them.  As with every year, presenters are asked to share handouts to be placed online. Last year we successfully live-streamed three sessions.  This year there are plans for “vodcasting” seven.  So there will be a virtual portal for those who cannot attend or those in attendance who miss sessions. A group of us will also use the My Scasl Ning, our own blogs, twitter, and other online portals to help bring in a virtual experience.

Here it is word for word from our SCASL President-elect, Joe Myers:

As the Conference Chair, I and my team have been planning a great conference. I am aware that with the tough economic times we are facing that our members would benefit from some type of electronic delivery. As I have been working on the conference program, I am building a website with all the program information to be launched near our conference date. It will include electronic access to handouts from our presenters, some select Vodcasts of concurrent sessions, websites of tours, guests, and as much information about the conference as can be put out on the web. The best way to make sure that everyone concerns are addressed is to fill out the conference survey with your opinions and ideas. Those surveys are valuable to the success of our future conferences.

With that being said, I’ll see you in Charleston–either face to face or virtually!

Tags: Professional Development, SCASL, SCASL10, School Librarians, South Carolina

Just got through commenting on a relatively new librarian blogger’s post about adding some blogs to follow. It’s been a while since I have done this, so I thought now would be a good time to let readers know whose voices are shaping my thinking and practice.  I have a folder in my Google Reader for library voices, and often I get so busy I mark my reader filled with all kinds of news and educational voices as read without taking the time to read. I justify this guilt free action by saying if it was popular enough, it will reappear in my other 2.0 circles, so I will eventually see it. But rarely do I ever mark these library voices as read.  As a matter of fact, I will usually comb through this folder, and THEN click my favorite button in my reader “mark all as read.”

My lunchtime activity daily at school is to sit at my desk in front of the computer and open up my reader, which is usually quite full, find and click on the “Library Voices folder, and then with my left hand key through the folder using the J key while I eat with my right hand.  I know that’s sort of anti-social, but not really. I only get about twenty minutes to eat, so this is what works for me.

• Heather Loy – Tech Tips and Timely Tidbits
• Fran Bullington – Informania
• Buffy Hamilton – The Unquiet Librarian
• Diane Cordell – Journeys
• Joyce Valenza – The Neverending Search
• Carolyn Foote – The Not So Distant Future
• Gweneth Jones – Library Media Tech Musings
• Sara Kelly Johns (Current candidate for ALA president Elect!!)
• From the Inside Out
• Doug Johnson – Blue Skunk Blog
• Chad Lehman – The IMC Guy
• Wendy Stephens – Wendy on the Web
• Amy at Time to Renew
• Karen Kleigman - Wired Librarian
• Ernie Cox – MediaCentered
• Keisa Williams – Monarch’s Library Blog
• Laura Pearle – Venn Librarian
• Jim Randolph – TeacherNinja
• Ms. Yingling Reads
• Jaccqiue Henry – Wanderings
• Lesley Edwards – The Webfooted Librarian
• Iam McCelan – Booked Inn
• Camilla Elliott – EduBeacon

I tip my hat to these bloggers. So even though I don’t “socialize” at lunch each day, I DO surround myself with the best “outside the box” voices around from the library world.  Who is shaping your thought process? Expand my reader with more voices!

PS–Jim this is just for you! I used cameroid.com

Disclaimer: I read more than just this list! I tried to find all of them in Google Reader through “manage subscriptions,” but could not find a way to sort by folder/tag.  This disclaimer in here to ward off any hurt feelings.  This is one way Google Reader does not live up to expectations.

Tags: 21st Century Learning, Blogging, Library, RSS

This was sent to the members of LM_Net (of which I am not a member) and to members of the WWWEDU Yahoo group (of which I AM a member–who mostly just lurks!) The WWWEDU group is basically a list serv, but Nancy Willard is a member who posts excellent content regularly, and so I ALWAYS read her posts. Her passion always comes through loud and clear.

Hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil

I’ve had many posts before about filtering (here’s one, another, and another.)  I plan to use some of them as I formulate my response. My favorites are posts about how filtering causes a digital gap and how these make educators complacent–about teaching with the Internet and with allowing students to search without formal instruction (because they think the filter will protect them.)  Most of us realize the filters only keep the very young and the very techno-illiterate teachers from content deemed inappropriate, whether it is or not the vast majority of kids know precisely how to get to their content. Many educators believe filters will keep students from hearing, seeing, or making bad choices online. To that I say phooey. But I also say a lot of times “ignorance is bliss”–though that is by no means an excuse.

Nancy Willard’s plea to educators:

I am pasting with permission Nancy’s plea below in full in hopes that readers here will act on her post.

Hi all,

I am sorry I am delayed with this – I am doing way too much. But
fortunately, there is a week for you to respond. The FCC is currently in the process of soliciting comments in a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to determine what “educating minors about appropriate online behavior” actually means, i.e. what schools will be required to certify that they are doing. The proposed regulations related to the new education about minors are very general – as I anticipated and said before. All they want schools to do is certify that they are providing this education. You also have to change your board policy that says you are providing this education.

You can find an article that links to the regulations here:
<http://www.eschoolnews.com/2009/11/09/fcc-proposes-web-safety-education-rules/>

There was a deadline to file comments by tomorrow, but this has been extended until the 25th.

Here is what is most important. The FCC also asks for information on two other points that are especially important. One is they want to know how schools are making a determination of what material is “harmful to minors.” According to the statute the term “harmful to minors” means any picture, image, graphic image file, or other visual depiction that

(A) taken as a whole and with respect to minors, appeals to a prurient interest in nudity, sex, or excretion;

(B) depicts, describes, or represents, in a patently offensive way with respect to what is suitable for minors, an actual or simulated sexual act or sexual contact, actual or simulated normal or perverted sexual acts, or a lewd exhibition of the genitals; and

(C) taken as a whole, lacks serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value as to minors.

They want to know how you – school districts – are interpreting this and how you are incorporating community standards. This is flat out BS. (excuse me) School districts have no ability whatsoever to make these determinations. All you can do is select the most appropriate categories provided by the filtering company – under conditions where you do not know actually what the filtering company is blocking in its categories and the blocking decisions of the company are a protected trade secret.

They also want to know how you are providing for overrides – which in most school districts is simply not occurring – or is not something that can happen fast enough to allow for effective education.

The most important thing that the FCC needs to hear is that all of this money they are spending for telecommunications is not doing anywhere near what it could be doing – and in many ways this is because of CIPA.  Read here: <http://www.ednetnews.com/story-2332-3.html> “Despite overwhelming agreement among parents, teachers and principals that the effective implementation of technology in schools is crucial to student success, students say they “step back in time” when they enter the school building each morning, according to today’s release of the 2008 Speak Up survey.” “Through Speak Up, students consistently report they are inhibited from effectively using computers or the Internet at school. Besides lack of time at school to use technology, students (6th-12th grade) report their technology use is impeded by the ever present school filters or firewalls which block access to websites they need (43 percent), teachers who limit their technology use (35 percent) and rules that limit their use of technology at school (26 percent).”

The other thing that is very evident is that they still believe filters are effective. Apparently no one has told them about all of the developments that allow people to bypass filters – developed for the dissidents in the Middle East and Asia – and how any high school students can easily bypass the school’s filter – it is just the adult staff who do not do this.

So here is what I suggest. You can take the time to read the proposed regulations. The most important thing the FTC needs to hear from educators from throughout the country is that the manner in which the CIPA requirement has been implemented in schools is preventing schools from effectively using technologies for instructional purposes. Point out: That schools have no control over deciding what is blocked – and there is no mechanism to hold the filtering companies accountable for their decisions. That in most schools they are so afraid of some consequence like losing erate funds, that no one is allowed to override the filter. That because of this many teachers are not willing to even try to use the Internet for instruction – because they are too often blocked by the filter from getting to the sites they need. That students can easily bypass the filters.

I suggest encouraging them to implement a study of this – because all of that money they are providing for telecommunciations is not being used wisely because of CIPA.

The people the FCC needs to hear from is YOU!!! YOU have important stories to tell. Don’t worry about writing some professional-sounding document. Just be yourself and tell your story about filtering in your own words. Please they need to hear from you. Tell them this is not working.

To file a comment in the e-rate matter first write your comment in Word  – you will have to upload this:

1. Go to http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/ecfs/
2. Click on “search for proceedings”
3. Next to “proceeding number” enter 02-6 and press enter
4. You should now be on a page that that shows “Proceeding 02-6 Details” with the Subject ” In the Matter of Schools and Libraries Universal Service Support Mechanism” Here you will see “Recent Public Filings” which includes any filing on this docket number and on the right side of the page, it should read ” 140 total FCC filings.” To read the filing I’m referring to, click on ” Common Carrier Bureau – NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULEMAKING” with the date received of 11/4/09.
5. To file a comment, click on “submit a filing in 02-6″ near the top of the page.
6. Make sure to fill in the required fields.

Please take the time to do this. It is very important that they hear
from you. Please feel free to send this message to other folks.

Nancy

–
Nancy Willard, M.S., J.D.
Center for Safe and Responsible Internet Use
http://csriu.org
nwillard@csriu.org

——————————

WWWEDU, The Web and Education Discussion Group
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/wwwedu
http://www.edwebproject.org/wwwedu.html
Yahoo! Groups Links

Tags: Filtering, Information Literacy, Internet Safety, K12

There  is room for improvement (like the mentioned powerpoint that closely resembles a KMN –”kill me now” bullet ridden presentation-lots of text but progress noted  minus the bullets.) But it is exciting to hear a student who is using so many tools, and able to show and tell how she is managing her learning and utilizing today’s tools for success.

Special thanks goes to David Bell, Media Coordinator for Horry County Schools (Myrtle Beach, SC) for sharing this with my network!!

Recent developments, the Teacher Librarian Cafe Elluminate last night, and yes, the AASL name change have my emotions so stirred I cannot think straight.  Even at supper tonight my husband and I debated on who was being harder hit, the media specialists with the discovery that our President and congress see little value in our programs, or the teachers that rumors say will be losing their positions at the end of the school year.

So many of us exchanged thoughts and ideas today regarding what has us up in arms of late, and something Mike Eisenberg shared today with this network of friends and colleagues really struck me. I feel so lucky to be connected to such a group!  I share it with permission below:

Regarding brand:

No, I cannot agree with School Librarian. To me, it’s retro – conjuring black and white images of stereotypical 1950s librarians. At the very least, let’s use teacher-librarian. Teacher-librarian emphasizes that we are educators – along with classroom teachers, special education teachers, technology teachers and others. That’s the term used in Canada and Australia. Here in Washington State, it’s the term written into educational code. I urge AASL to reconsider their decision. Yes – let’s move away from the 60’s – away from library media specialist or media specialist. But, let’s go forward, not backward.

Also, please remember the audience – it’s school boards and administrators and other teachers and students and community. It’s not us! It’s not how WE feel. This is how we are perceived by others.

Regarding the program – we’ve discussed this at length in the Northwest – with major input from the 3 Moms. We now agree on Library Information and Technology Program – the LIT Program. It’s a bit of a mouthful, but it captures key terms – library, information, technology. Yes, it is somewhat redundant to include all these terms, but politically and brand-wise it makes sense.

I know that there are strong feelings throughout the field on all of this. But I assure you – BRAND MAKES A DIFFERENCE. Returning to “school librarian” and “school library” gets us nowhere. “Teacher-librarian” can help a little because no one can say it and not realize that teacher-librarians are educators and not caretakers of rooms and books. “Library Information and Technology Program” can help a lot because it defines the scope of our responsibilities and links us to key, central, essential elements of 21^st Century Education.

I plead with everyone – especially the AASL leadership PLEASE ACCEPT THIS PROPOSAL. I think it would be impossible right now to reach consensus on an entirely new title for the professional. So, the choice is really between “school librarian” and “teacher-librarian.”  School librarian? Been there, done that. Teacher-librarian? We haven’t really given that brand a concerted, nationwide try – shouting it from the rooftops. As for the program, accept a new term that does capture and stake out  the breadth of what we do – library information and technology.

I truly fear for the future of the field. Like newspapers and bookstores, I think we are truly endangered. THERE IS A CRISIS. It seems that we lose positions every day. I think it is crucially important if we have any hope of stopping the erosion of cuts in positions across the country that we need to take these 2 steps now!

Teacher-librarian. Library Information and Technology Program.

I’ve worked in and for this field for almost 40 years. I think most of you know how hard I have worked on the ground in individual schools, districts, in states, and on the national level.  I put every ounce of my reputation on the line for this plea. Even if you don’t fully agree with me, but you respect my efforts and work over the years, please give this a chance.

Thanks for listening,

Mike

p.s. – and the tag line,  mission statement is clear – “to ensure that students are effective user and producers of information and ideas.”  There is no mission more powerful than this.

***************************************************************

Mike Eisenberg

Dean Emeritus and Professor

The Information School of the University of Washington

Box 352840
Mary Gates Hall, Suite 370
Seattle, WA 98195-2840

Phone: (206) 616-1152

mbe@u.washington.edu

http://www.ischool.washington.edu/mbe

***************************************************************

Wow. Can’t you just feel his passion in that?  I too feel we NEED the “teacher” brand in our title to make our congress and President take us seriously. Mike is right. When they think school library and school librarian, they remember what it was like 40+ years ago when they were in school. They have not experienced the library of today.

Introductory Webinar focus  – TL Cafe discusses the “name”

Last night in the TL Virtual Cafe, there were some very animated discussions centered on the title issue as well as the national budget eliminating school libraries.  The TL Virtual Cafe is going to happen every first Monday of the month, so stay tuned to see what the next topic is and how to access it. There were over 86 particpants last night alone! Checkout the resources provided to us from our special guest Mike Eisenberg.

And so, I leave you with the question–>What’s in a name?

Our brand, our livelihood, I daresay.  Call your congressman TODAY. Claim yourself as a TEACHER Librarian, and ask them to rethink cutting our budgets. End that call (or letter) with our clear mission:

“to ensure that students are effective user and producers of information and ideas.” (quoting Mike Eisenberg)

Photo Source: Michael Eisenberg

http://faculty.washington.edu/mbe/

Tags: Eisenberg, K12, teacher librarian, TLCafe, undewey

So we recently had our title changed to “school librarian” by our professional organization, and although I felt like it was a set back, in the grand scheme of issues that need advocacy, seriously the name change was small potatoes.  But recent events have suddenly made that name change completely fall off my radar.

President’s FY2011 budget proposals calls for cuts to school library funding

To say I am shocked is an understatement. I realized that I needed to educate my administration and even teachers in my building of what I do for the schoolwide program, but WOW, it seems our president and congress need this education as well.

Some quotes that bug me, seriously:

He discussed the $20 billion in cuts for programs that are inefficient or have outlived their usefulness, and cuts for worthy programs that must be trimmed accordingly.  (Read the whole article here.)

Today the President’s FY 11 budget is out – with greater detail about what we’re proposing and additional initiatives that will help middle class families get ahead. (Read the whole article here.)

Bailout please?

Okay President Obama and esteemed congressmen and congresswomen, where in this plan is the bailout for school library programs? While you are considering this, I have to wonder if the Sidwell Friends Lower School Library, the Sidwell Friends Middle School Library, and the Sidwell Friends Upper School Library are at risk of losing their funding? The Sidwell Friends Upper school boasts if offering 1,000,000+ resources to their students (go watch the cutesy video for yourself!) Not familiar with Sidwell Friends School? Oh, I thought everyone knew that the Sidwell Friends School is the chosen (private) school for the president’s children.

Once again the privileged benefit, despite measures to affect change with less than privileged

It is painfully obvious that even leaders such as our president and congress haven’t got a clue about the importance of school libraries.  But why would they? Their own children no doubt have every advantage to get resources needed to support their learning, including parents (or guardians) who will drive them to bookstores to buy books they may want or need, an up-to-date computer to search the Internet, and even tutors to teach them searching strategies.  No, due to their stature and position in life, they will never know how middle class or even under-privileged youths rely on our resources.  They will never know of our expertise or skills in helping these students utilize their higher order thinking skills or seamlessly use technology as a tool to demonstrate concept mastery.  It’s a sad state of libraries to be sure, and it won’t even be missed by these decison makers cutting our budgets.

Tell me how to apply for a bailout!

How do we apply for a bailout program for school libraries? Banks got them. Car dealerships got them. I promise I won’t give out financial bonuses with the funding. But I do promise to equip students with the means to be successful in our world. Isn’t that the purpose of a bailout? To make the ones receiving help independent? We are not inefficient programs that have outlived our usefulness. And cutting school library program budgets will most certainly negatively impact middle class (and lower) students.

Just FYI by the way…

By the way, it costs roughly $30,000 for a student to attend Sidwell Friends, so for our President, multiply that by 2. Oh that just 10% of this pittance were the norm for budgets across our state. Sadly, I think that may be an elevated figure.

Tags: 11NationalBudget, advocacy, PresidentObama, School Library, SchoolLibrary