Gavin Rollins- Lake District 4
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.
Critical to providing students access to knowledge and high-quality content in print and digital formats.
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 think recent law changes signed by the Governor are good; they allow challenges but put in safeguards for those trying to game the system.
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?
Students in a captive classroom should have a higher level of scrutiny. Materials in libraries should be age appropriate.
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 believe if it can't be read in a school board meeting, it is most likely not appropriate for a school library, especially without a parent's person to check out.
Critical to providing students access to knowledge and high-quality content in print and digital formats.
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 think recent law changes signed by the Governor are good; they allow challenges but put in safeguards for those trying to game the system.
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?
Students in a captive classroom should have a higher level of scrutiny. Materials in libraries should be age appropriate.
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 believe if it can't be read in a school board meeting, it is most likely not appropriate for a school library, especially without a parent's person to check out.