Laurie L Cox- Leon 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.
I have taught in our public schools for 33 years and know the value of a certified and trained media specialist at our schools!
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?
Parents should be involved and know what’s happening in their child’s classroom and also what books their children are exposed to and have access to. It’s important to have a wide range of books available in our media centers and we want our students reading and checking out books! Reading is critical to a child’s education so having a wide variety of books is crucial!
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?
Classroom instructional materials are different than self selection reading materials. Instructional materials should meet state standards. Optional reading materials don’t necessarily need to meet state standards . I don’t believe having books with sexually explicit content is appropriate for our media centers and support those books being looked into and reviewed.
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 a book challenged as outlined by each districts objection policy.
I have taught in our public schools for 33 years and know the value of a certified and trained media specialist at our schools!
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?
Parents should be involved and know what’s happening in their child’s classroom and also what books their children are exposed to and have access to. It’s important to have a wide range of books available in our media centers and we want our students reading and checking out books! Reading is critical to a child’s education so having a wide variety of books is crucial!
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?
Classroom instructional materials are different than self selection reading materials. Instructional materials should meet state standards. Optional reading materials don’t necessarily need to meet state standards . I don’t believe having books with sexually explicit content is appropriate for our media centers and support those books being looked into and reviewed.
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 a book challenged as outlined by each districts objection policy.