Sara Beth Wyatt- Polk 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.
The highly trained and certified librarians we hire are a part of our educational team not only to help curate the library collection, but also to ignite in students the excitement of reading. They can assist students in finding the perfect book based on their interests or an author they love. They can also help classroom teachers curate supplemental reading lists for a topic learned about in class when students may be interested in delving deeper.
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?
Balancing parental choice and student access is all about providing options. When you are serving nearly 120,000 students, there is no one-size fits all solution. Florida has led the way in parental choice, but we sometimes forget that parent choice means ALL parents get to choose. In Polk County, we have adopted an opt-out process for our libraries, where every parent/guardian has the option to opt their child out of any or all library materials, as they see fit. As a parent, my responsibility is to be engaged with my child’s education, including knowing what topics my child is interested in and knowing what books they are currently reading. If I feel the topics or books are inappropriate, then I should be the one having those conversations with my child and placing the parameters. Just because I think my child is ready for certain content does not mean other parents feel the same, and just because I do not want my child reading about certain topics does not mean that other parents are opposed to their students to read those topics. Our highly trained certified librarians have the responsibility to ensure that our libraries are curated in accordance with Florida statute and provide options for every student and grade-level at the school. In Polk County, we also have an interlocal agreement with our local library cooperative, meaning that every student can have access to any book in a local library (with parent permission). These books can be requested for delivery at home or school. Parents can opt students out from being able to take part in the library cooperative, if they would like.
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?
There is a much higher standard for appropriateness of books used for read-alouds and instructional materials than those used for self-selected reading. Books used for instructional materials should be relevant to curriculum and state standards. Books self-selected by students may cover much broader topics and depths, based on student interest.
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 am not sure why any school board would deny a parent the opportunity to read passages. The concerns have arisen when boards have denied parents the opportunity to read passages aloud at a public meeting with young children in the room or watching online. While a book under review may be appropriate for a high school student, it may not be appropriate for an elementary or middle school student in attendance or listening. I am in support of our current policy, which provides for a fair and public review of each book brought into question.
The highly trained and certified librarians we hire are a part of our educational team not only to help curate the library collection, but also to ignite in students the excitement of reading. They can assist students in finding the perfect book based on their interests or an author they love. They can also help classroom teachers curate supplemental reading lists for a topic learned about in class when students may be interested in delving deeper.
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?
Balancing parental choice and student access is all about providing options. When you are serving nearly 120,000 students, there is no one-size fits all solution. Florida has led the way in parental choice, but we sometimes forget that parent choice means ALL parents get to choose. In Polk County, we have adopted an opt-out process for our libraries, where every parent/guardian has the option to opt their child out of any or all library materials, as they see fit. As a parent, my responsibility is to be engaged with my child’s education, including knowing what topics my child is interested in and knowing what books they are currently reading. If I feel the topics or books are inappropriate, then I should be the one having those conversations with my child and placing the parameters. Just because I think my child is ready for certain content does not mean other parents feel the same, and just because I do not want my child reading about certain topics does not mean that other parents are opposed to their students to read those topics. Our highly trained certified librarians have the responsibility to ensure that our libraries are curated in accordance with Florida statute and provide options for every student and grade-level at the school. In Polk County, we also have an interlocal agreement with our local library cooperative, meaning that every student can have access to any book in a local library (with parent permission). These books can be requested for delivery at home or school. Parents can opt students out from being able to take part in the library cooperative, if they would like.
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?
There is a much higher standard for appropriateness of books used for read-alouds and instructional materials than those used for self-selected reading. Books used for instructional materials should be relevant to curriculum and state standards. Books self-selected by students may cover much broader topics and depths, based on student interest.
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 am not sure why any school board would deny a parent the opportunity to read passages. The concerns have arisen when boards have denied parents the opportunity to read passages aloud at a public meeting with young children in the room or watching online. While a book under review may be appropriate for a high school student, it may not be appropriate for an elementary or middle school student in attendance or listening. I am in support of our current policy, which provides for a fair and public review of each book brought into question.