Rosanne Wood- Leon District 2
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 media center should always be the "hub" of learning. As a former principal, I always had a certified media specialist who supported teachers to expand their instruction and enrich the curriculum. Media specialists are well trained to help students find books that align with their interests, which is so important at every age.
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 have the right to restrict their child from reading certain books. That does not mean that they have the right to restrict other parents' rights for their children to access a broad range of books and reading materials. As long as there is a clear and fair process for parents to object to materials, I believe we should trust media specialists to select and curate library materials.
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?
The media center should have a broad selection of self-selected reading materials to align with diverse interests of students. Everyone has to follow the law, but I personally believe that teachers are professionals and should not be required to have every book in their classrooms approved by a media specialist. This rule/law has meant that many good books in classrooms have been unavailable to students because of the burden placed on media specialists.
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 support a fair public review of any material taken off a shelf because of one passage read out of context in a school board meeting.
The media center should always be the "hub" of learning. As a former principal, I always had a certified media specialist who supported teachers to expand their instruction and enrich the curriculum. Media specialists are well trained to help students find books that align with their interests, which is so important at every age.
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 have the right to restrict their child from reading certain books. That does not mean that they have the right to restrict other parents' rights for their children to access a broad range of books and reading materials. As long as there is a clear and fair process for parents to object to materials, I believe we should trust media specialists to select and curate library materials.
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?
The media center should have a broad selection of self-selected reading materials to align with diverse interests of students. Everyone has to follow the law, but I personally believe that teachers are professionals and should not be required to have every book in their classrooms approved by a media specialist. This rule/law has meant that many good books in classrooms have been unavailable to students because of the burden placed on media specialists.
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 support a fair public review of any material taken off a shelf because of one passage read out of context in a school board meeting.