Jake Petroski- Orange 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.
Media specialists play a critical role in the success of our schools. They are stewards of education, academic resources, and exploration in our schools. The school library should be a place filled with books that are rich in diversity and subject matter. Our media play a vital role in the development of our students. For many the media center transcends academics pursuits by becoming a place for personal growth and exploration. Our professional media specialists are empowering figures that facilitate both academic and personal growth. They are invaluable resources that deserve our trust, support, and gratitude.
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?
Being a former educator I feel that media specialists have continuously made efforts to fill the libraries with age appropriate material. I realize this is a challenge, but it's one I feel they have always navigated successfully. I believe all parents have the right to engage in the education of their kids as long as those "rights" don't detract from the rights of other students to explore and have access to a diverse selection of reading material at their school. This type of censorship is a dangerous, slippery slope that can erode the trust we have in our educators and ultimately public education.
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?
As a former educator I think having diverse material in both settings is very important. It is my understanding that recent legislation in the state of Florida has deemed them as one and the same when it comes to challenges and censorship. I don't agree with the legislation. While I believe students would benefit from a variety of material in all settings I believe self-selection should always be free to offer a variety of material to the students. I think students should have the resources and materials to explore a variety of stories and topics in our schools. The library should be a welcoming place for all students.
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.
Personally I think we should trust the professional media specialists to acquire and maintain books as they have always responsively done. If we are going to continue challenging books we must strive to make the reviews transparent, fair, and complete. Meaning that passages or words cannot be the sole reason for a challenge without understanding the entire context of the narrative or point of the book. I would interpret it as it not being a fair and public review of a book if said book is pulled without it being read by a parent or the committee. I would liken it to sentencing a person to jail without a trial. We must find ways to navigate legislation that creates censorship within our schools.
Media specialists play a critical role in the success of our schools. They are stewards of education, academic resources, and exploration in our schools. The school library should be a place filled with books that are rich in diversity and subject matter. Our media play a vital role in the development of our students. For many the media center transcends academics pursuits by becoming a place for personal growth and exploration. Our professional media specialists are empowering figures that facilitate both academic and personal growth. They are invaluable resources that deserve our trust, support, and gratitude.
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?
Being a former educator I feel that media specialists have continuously made efforts to fill the libraries with age appropriate material. I realize this is a challenge, but it's one I feel they have always navigated successfully. I believe all parents have the right to engage in the education of their kids as long as those "rights" don't detract from the rights of other students to explore and have access to a diverse selection of reading material at their school. This type of censorship is a dangerous, slippery slope that can erode the trust we have in our educators and ultimately public education.
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?
As a former educator I think having diverse material in both settings is very important. It is my understanding that recent legislation in the state of Florida has deemed them as one and the same when it comes to challenges and censorship. I don't agree with the legislation. While I believe students would benefit from a variety of material in all settings I believe self-selection should always be free to offer a variety of material to the students. I think students should have the resources and materials to explore a variety of stories and topics in our schools. The library should be a welcoming place for all students.
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.
Personally I think we should trust the professional media specialists to acquire and maintain books as they have always responsively done. If we are going to continue challenging books we must strive to make the reviews transparent, fair, and complete. Meaning that passages or words cannot be the sole reason for a challenge without understanding the entire context of the narrative or point of the book. I would interpret it as it not being a fair and public review of a book if said book is pulled without it being read by a parent or the committee. I would liken it to sentencing a person to jail without a trial. We must find ways to navigate legislation that creates censorship within our schools.