Things We Think About At Work.

[silveradept]

Here's another random thought that waltzed into my head, gave me the finger, and then proceeded to Mosh Mosh Revolution out.

What's going on with school libraries? Their media specialists are being laid off, and it feels like the public library's collection is being relied on as an essential resource for completing assignments. Have schools decided that in the era of standardized testing that having a library is unimportant? Are school libraries being grouped with arts programs as the first things to go on the chopping block in case of budget cuts? (And in those places, what kind of favored status do the athletic programs have?)

Obviously, I'm biased when it comes to how important libraries are in public and school life. I'm just wondering if anything has changed in education thinking that diminishes the role and value of the school library. It would be a shame, because the library and research skills developed there will be way important in college or in life.

Comments

[silveradept]

Which is bad, because the public library does not specialize, nor carry thirty copies of one particular book in one location so that everyone can do their book reports on the same piece. Nor do we carry a lot of textbook-y or exercise-filled books past a certain point.

There are reasons to retain a specialized school media center, rather than relying on the public library having enough copies in at any given time.

[annaonthemoon.livejournal.com]

Oh, I'm not saying that it's a good idea for schools to rely more heavily on a local library over putting one in the school, I'm just suggesting that might be the mentality of the districts when they're faced with give more money to the library vs.give more money to some other program.

Most of the time when we had to read a novel in school, I went out and purchased my own copy because our school versions were so horrible looking I swear if you looked at it wrong it would turn to dust.

[torakiyoshi.livejournal.com]

"Some other program" should be replaced with "varsity football" and "the WASL" in Washington State. Neither of which deserve more money.

-=TK

[annaonthemoon.livejournal.com]

The WASL? What's that?

[torakiyoshi.livejournal.com]

A waste of money, time and resources (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washington_Assessment_of_Student_Learning). Washington's so-called "standardized" test, in order to be compliant with No Child Left Behind. Which is also a waste of the above. I hope the next president nullifies it.