Bill Ribble- Lee District 3
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 to develop a love of reading, working with classroom teachers with a variety of books on topics that will peak a student’s interest. Their role is to instruct in the effective use of information, both tangible and digital, for research in collaboration with the classroom teacher. School librarians create and maintain quality libraries to foster cross curricula support with classroom teachers.
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?
In the Lee County School District parental rights are clearly defined to support House Bill 1069 that further protects parents’ rights to ensure that students are not exposed to inappropriate content.
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?
In a captive classroom, reading material is curriculum approved and aligned with Florida’s College and Career Readiness Standards (CCR’s). The purpose of this access is to provide students with literature across subject areas and genres, piquing curiosity and fostering an interest in reading. In a self-selection situation, students are encouraged to meet Florida’s READS Guidelines by selecting age-appropriate material (defined in HB 1069), across individual development reading readiness levels in support of individual interests across genres and to support curriculum-based self-study, speaking and listening skills, and/or research across media.
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.
I would support a fair and public review of the book as outlined in House Bill 1069, Section IV, paragraph 3.
The role of a certified, trained librarian/media specialist is to develop a love of reading, working with classroom teachers with a variety of books on topics that will peak a student’s interest. Their role is to instruct in the effective use of information, both tangible and digital, for research in collaboration with the classroom teacher. School librarians create and maintain quality libraries to foster cross curricula support with classroom teachers.
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?
In the Lee County School District parental rights are clearly defined to support House Bill 1069 that further protects parents’ rights to ensure that students are not exposed to inappropriate content.
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?
In a captive classroom, reading material is curriculum approved and aligned with Florida’s College and Career Readiness Standards (CCR’s). The purpose of this access is to provide students with literature across subject areas and genres, piquing curiosity and fostering an interest in reading. In a self-selection situation, students are encouraged to meet Florida’s READS Guidelines by selecting age-appropriate material (defined in HB 1069), across individual development reading readiness levels in support of individual interests across genres and to support curriculum-based self-study, speaking and listening skills, and/or research across media.
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.
I would support a fair and public review of the book as outlined in House Bill 1069, Section IV, paragraph 3.