Francesca Wernisch- Palm Beach District 1
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.
I believe that a school library/media center plays a critical role in supporting students' educational development. It provides access to a wide range of resources, essential for fostering literacy, research skills, and a love of learning. A certified, trained librarian or media specialist is integral to this environment, possessing the expertise to guide students in locating, evaluating, and utilizing information effectively. They also collaborate with teachers to enhance the curriculum and support diverse learning needs. Together, a library/media center and its trained specialists create a rich, supportive, and dynamic educational experience.
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?
I would approach this by respecting parents' rights and students' access to library materials while promoting intellectual freedom, diversity, and inclusion. Parents have a legitimate interest in their children's education, wanting materials to align with their values; simultaneously, students benefit from a range of diverse resources that broaden perspectives, encourage critical thinking, and foster empathy. One approach is to establish clear guidelines and procedures for selecting library materials, considering community needs and values. This could involve a committee of parents, educators, librarians, and community members who review and approve materials. Additionally, parents could have the option to opt out or restrict their child's access to certain materials. The key is respecting parental rights without impacting others who may benefit from those materials. Regardless of the method, transparency and communication are essential to building trust and understanding.
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?
Broadly speaking, classroom materials are more tightly controlled to fit educational goals, while library selections offer broader choices, emphasizing personal interest and developmental appropriateness with guidance from librarians. In a classroom, the appropriateness of reading material is determined by strict guidelines to ensure alignment with learning objectives and students' developmental stages. Educators select materials that are educationally relevant and sensitive to students' maturity levels, tailoring content to specific age groups and topics. In the school library, students have the freedom to self-select materials, providing more flexibility in what is considered age-appropriate. Libraries aim to offer a wide range of resources to meet diverse interests and needs. Librarians curate collections with professional judgment, reader advisories, and content warnings to guide students in choosing suitable materials. Despite differences in age-appropriateness standards between classrooms and libraries, both aim to promote students' intellectual and emotional development. Effective collaboration and communication among educators, librarians, and parents ensures access to materials that support learning and personal growth while respecting individual needs and values.
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.
The school district develops policies in line with Florida Statutes and, with the expertise of their legal counsel, has adopted a thorough policy for objections to instructional materials. The procedures for complaints and appeals are open to the public, and I support this transparency. I encourage all parties involved to respect the law and ensure objections are made not solely based on differences in personal values but with empathetic consideration of all experiences and perspectives. I am committed to ensuring that students have access to books and materials that support learning and personal growth.
I believe that a school library/media center plays a critical role in supporting students' educational development. It provides access to a wide range of resources, essential for fostering literacy, research skills, and a love of learning. A certified, trained librarian or media specialist is integral to this environment, possessing the expertise to guide students in locating, evaluating, and utilizing information effectively. They also collaborate with teachers to enhance the curriculum and support diverse learning needs. Together, a library/media center and its trained specialists create a rich, supportive, and dynamic educational experience.
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?
I would approach this by respecting parents' rights and students' access to library materials while promoting intellectual freedom, diversity, and inclusion. Parents have a legitimate interest in their children's education, wanting materials to align with their values; simultaneously, students benefit from a range of diverse resources that broaden perspectives, encourage critical thinking, and foster empathy. One approach is to establish clear guidelines and procedures for selecting library materials, considering community needs and values. This could involve a committee of parents, educators, librarians, and community members who review and approve materials. Additionally, parents could have the option to opt out or restrict their child's access to certain materials. The key is respecting parental rights without impacting others who may benefit from those materials. Regardless of the method, transparency and communication are essential to building trust and understanding.
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?
Broadly speaking, classroom materials are more tightly controlled to fit educational goals, while library selections offer broader choices, emphasizing personal interest and developmental appropriateness with guidance from librarians. In a classroom, the appropriateness of reading material is determined by strict guidelines to ensure alignment with learning objectives and students' developmental stages. Educators select materials that are educationally relevant and sensitive to students' maturity levels, tailoring content to specific age groups and topics. In the school library, students have the freedom to self-select materials, providing more flexibility in what is considered age-appropriate. Libraries aim to offer a wide range of resources to meet diverse interests and needs. Librarians curate collections with professional judgment, reader advisories, and content warnings to guide students in choosing suitable materials. Despite differences in age-appropriateness standards between classrooms and libraries, both aim to promote students' intellectual and emotional development. Effective collaboration and communication among educators, librarians, and parents ensures access to materials that support learning and personal growth while respecting individual needs and values.
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.
The school district develops policies in line with Florida Statutes and, with the expertise of their legal counsel, has adopted a thorough policy for objections to instructional materials. The procedures for complaints and appeals are open to the public, and I support this transparency. I encourage all parties involved to respect the law and ensure objections are made not solely based on differences in personal values but with empathetic consideration of all experiences and perspectives. I am committed to ensuring that students have access to books and materials that support learning and personal growth.