Sheridan Chester- Lee District 7
1. Please share your thoughts related to the importance of the school library/media center and the role of a certified, trained librarian/media specialist in schools.
The role of a certified, trained librarian/media specialist is crucial to a student's understanding of the library system. Libraries interconnect students with art, technology, and many of their daily activities. Librarians teach us how to locate data and unravel clues to life. Librarians are fundamental.
2. Florida school libraries/media centers have always supported parents' rights to direct their students' education. How would you balance parental rights and student access to library materials, especially given that some books trigger different reactions among parents, all of whom deserve rights?
This is a much discussed issue and the fact is there are policies in effect that support parents' rights where their children's education is concerned. Within policy situations should be considered based on a case by case basis.
3. Students have access to reading material through captive classroom instruction, read-alouds and novel studies, as well as through self-selection in libraries where they choose their own book. How would you differentiate between the appropriateness of reading material in a captive classroom vs. self-selection in the school library?
First determine student populations' strengths, and interests. Reading to a captive audience often helps with things like vocabulary building, inflection and tone and pronunciation without singling out a student. Self-selection can boost confidence, motivation, and often the desire to share what they learn. Both are invaluable tools.
4. As written in Florida House Bill 1069, “Parents shall have the right to read passages from any material that is subject to an objection. If the school board denies a parent the right to read passages due to content" deemed unsuitable as defined in the bill, the school district must discontinue use of the material. If a reader is denied, explain why you would interpret the law by supporting or opposing a fair and public review of the book, as outlined in each district's objection policy.
How can you know what you support or oppose if you don't know the content? There are policies in place to address this situation. This may be addressed on a one on one basis, as per district policy. As per Florida House Bill1069: "The bill requires that meetings of committees to resolve objections must be noticed and open to the public, and provides an appeals process through a special magistrate."
The role of a certified, trained librarian/media specialist is crucial to a student's understanding of the library system. Libraries interconnect students with art, technology, and many of their daily activities. Librarians teach us how to locate data and unravel clues to life. Librarians are fundamental.
2. Florida school libraries/media centers have always supported parents' rights to direct their students' education. How would you balance parental rights and student access to library materials, especially given that some books trigger different reactions among parents, all of whom deserve rights?
This is a much discussed issue and the fact is there are policies in effect that support parents' rights where their children's education is concerned. Within policy situations should be considered based on a case by case basis.
3. Students have access to reading material through captive classroom instruction, read-alouds and novel studies, as well as through self-selection in libraries where they choose their own book. How would you differentiate between the appropriateness of reading material in a captive classroom vs. self-selection in the school library?
First determine student populations' strengths, and interests. Reading to a captive audience often helps with things like vocabulary building, inflection and tone and pronunciation without singling out a student. Self-selection can boost confidence, motivation, and often the desire to share what they learn. Both are invaluable tools.
4. As written in Florida House Bill 1069, “Parents shall have the right to read passages from any material that is subject to an objection. If the school board denies a parent the right to read passages due to content" deemed unsuitable as defined in the bill, the school district must discontinue use of the material. If a reader is denied, explain why you would interpret the law by supporting or opposing a fair and public review of the book, as outlined in each district's objection policy.
How can you know what you support or oppose if you don't know the content? There are policies in place to address this situation. This may be addressed on a one on one basis, as per district policy. As per Florida House Bill1069: "The bill requires that meetings of committees to resolve objections must be noticed and open to the public, and provides an appeals process through a special magistrate."