Tim Houghtaling- Putnam District 3
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 always considered skilled pleasant librarian / media specialists a very crucial pillar or backbone to a library. The evolution into the digital age is critical to schools and communities as our library's are being 're-invented'. I appreciate how rapidly change is 'happening', especially with the huge discussion of 'what should be allowable' and how to monitor/supervise.
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?
A huge question. Probably a more critical discussion would be how parents can know what their children are exposed to via the internet. I believe a worthy option is found in the work of the 'Wait until 8th" grade for students to possess 'internet devices' (https://www.waituntil8th.org). I will have a big learning curve to climb as I consider the question above - how to deal with the childish envy / desire to be 'just like x' when some families impose restraints on their offspring while others have no rules. I can visualize Principals and Librarians in the crossfire.
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?
I have little exposure at this time. That said, I can only hope the 'captive classroom instruction' has been selected as core to a particular course component with overall uniformity with minor objection. Accountability is necessary if materials are outside community standards of appropriateness to age/ maturity. I hope old fashioned books found in libraries have been reviewed, sorted, segregated to appropriateness where 'the system' will limit 'self-selection' of materials outside of community standards. Again the virtue and value of trained librarians / media specialists is critical in steering youth away when curiosity takes them into an internet or books beyond community standards. I all but missed a topic I, a neophyte at this, find critical: physical separation of youth as they grow, mature, become aware of the world ...PK-5th grade schoolers with home room / one teacher ... Putnam Count Superintendent Phyllis Criswell implemented an all county 6th grade specific to allowing youngsters to be exposed to wider demographics, a larger breadth of interaction .. changing rooms and teachers and more ... then Junior / Middle Schools for 7-8th grade that allows gradual maturation before 'High' School .. as advocated by the Association for Middle Level Education with the latest version of their book "This We Believe in Action - implementing successful middle level schools". I say this as our current Superintendent has shuttered the separate 6th experiment as well as the Junior / Middle high schools as he sets off to build all new schools 'for the price of a cup of coffee a day ... for 34 years" ... and Librarians / Media specialists get to deal with huge age / development spans .. as best they can. Lo Siento
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 have not thoroughly investigated the bill as I know it has evolved and, even after signing will continue to evolve. One observation is the July 2023 Senate write up indicates School Boards will be "responsible" for the materials used in classroom libraries while later press accounts detail a centralized Department of Education in Tallahassee that (has) taken on the role of gatekeeper. I have come to understand this is in line with other dictates including course work necessary to graduate changing year to year, I assume forcing teachers to teach to the tests... but tests that are different depending when the youth entered the schools. ... now your question "If a reader is denied" ... I do not comprehend the question nor that upon which it is based ... I can only think of a video where a school board ordered a parent not to read from a book in the library because of the content ... that interaction - the 'stand off' if you will, brought me back to a Supreme Court decision on pornography ... 'you know it when you see it' .... sort of like defining community standards. I apologize if I was obtuse. It is a true 'glass half full and filling rapidly' time for Librarians and Media specialists ... ten years ago our South Carolina library had one of the brand new 3d printer machines exposing active minds to what now can build a complete house! You all are special.,
I have always considered skilled pleasant librarian / media specialists a very crucial pillar or backbone to a library. The evolution into the digital age is critical to schools and communities as our library's are being 're-invented'. I appreciate how rapidly change is 'happening', especially with the huge discussion of 'what should be allowable' and how to monitor/supervise.
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?
A huge question. Probably a more critical discussion would be how parents can know what their children are exposed to via the internet. I believe a worthy option is found in the work of the 'Wait until 8th" grade for students to possess 'internet devices' (https://www.waituntil8th.org). I will have a big learning curve to climb as I consider the question above - how to deal with the childish envy / desire to be 'just like x' when some families impose restraints on their offspring while others have no rules. I can visualize Principals and Librarians in the crossfire.
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?
I have little exposure at this time. That said, I can only hope the 'captive classroom instruction' has been selected as core to a particular course component with overall uniformity with minor objection. Accountability is necessary if materials are outside community standards of appropriateness to age/ maturity. I hope old fashioned books found in libraries have been reviewed, sorted, segregated to appropriateness where 'the system' will limit 'self-selection' of materials outside of community standards. Again the virtue and value of trained librarians / media specialists is critical in steering youth away when curiosity takes them into an internet or books beyond community standards. I all but missed a topic I, a neophyte at this, find critical: physical separation of youth as they grow, mature, become aware of the world ...PK-5th grade schoolers with home room / one teacher ... Putnam Count Superintendent Phyllis Criswell implemented an all county 6th grade specific to allowing youngsters to be exposed to wider demographics, a larger breadth of interaction .. changing rooms and teachers and more ... then Junior / Middle Schools for 7-8th grade that allows gradual maturation before 'High' School .. as advocated by the Association for Middle Level Education with the latest version of their book "This We Believe in Action - implementing successful middle level schools". I say this as our current Superintendent has shuttered the separate 6th experiment as well as the Junior / Middle high schools as he sets off to build all new schools 'for the price of a cup of coffee a day ... for 34 years" ... and Librarians / Media specialists get to deal with huge age / development spans .. as best they can. Lo Siento
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 have not thoroughly investigated the bill as I know it has evolved and, even after signing will continue to evolve. One observation is the July 2023 Senate write up indicates School Boards will be "responsible" for the materials used in classroom libraries while later press accounts detail a centralized Department of Education in Tallahassee that (has) taken on the role of gatekeeper. I have come to understand this is in line with other dictates including course work necessary to graduate changing year to year, I assume forcing teachers to teach to the tests... but tests that are different depending when the youth entered the schools. ... now your question "If a reader is denied" ... I do not comprehend the question nor that upon which it is based ... I can only think of a video where a school board ordered a parent not to read from a book in the library because of the content ... that interaction - the 'stand off' if you will, brought me back to a Supreme Court decision on pornography ... 'you know it when you see it' .... sort of like defining community standards. I apologize if I was obtuse. It is a true 'glass half full and filling rapidly' time for Librarians and Media specialists ... ten years ago our South Carolina library had one of the brand new 3d printer machines exposing active minds to what now can build a complete house! You all are special.,