Recently, I read a post by Geekandahalf regarding ereaders in schools. There has been a lot of talk about rise of the ebook, which if you remember has been going on for probably over 10 years once people realized they can digitize everything. There was an article that Geekandahalf linked too called "Libraries Vanishing From Schools" which I shared on one of the list-servs I'm a part of. I received a number of responses that were basically mocking my posting of the article. They focused on the editorial errors and not the issue. One of the responses I received stated that "the content doesn't have much to do with the Independent school world." I have to disagree. Maybe it is not an immediate problem but it will become a problem. For example, lets look at Cushing Academy and the controversy over the library going bookless. If there are no books, why do you need a professional librarian? Also, I have met a number of people, at an independent school librarian conference, who were not professional librarians. I also have to mention that this school year, a librarian left an independent school in our area and was replaced by one of the teachers. So, do we need to worry? Is this an issue already that we are just ignoring? My answer is "Yes." Once the trained librarian disappears, the classes we teach disappears. I'm not saying that these people cannot do the job, they can. But what we do is not measurable in AP scores and it is difficult to justify to a school board, whether it's at a public school or independent school, why so much money needs to be spent on books other than those used for specific classes or why you need a librarian to teach certain skills that cannot be tested. I think, it's pretty short sighted to think that this is only a public school problem.
I thought I would stop by House of Secrets today before work and checkout what was on the shelves. I keep meaning to restart my "Graphic Novel Friday" posts but things have been very hectic. Yesterday, we had our Back-To School Day (more on that later) and it is also the start of our library classes, basically, this means the History team are bringing their classes in. We love our History team!!!This school year has been pretty fun so far. I am again teaching 2 classes, in addition, to our library lessons classes that come in throughout the year. Like I mentioned earlier, Back-To-School Day was yesterday morning and it was pretty successful. I had to do 3 presentations for parents explaining what our class was about and it entailed. Most years I try to use the 10 minutes up so no one can ask me questions (parents make me nervous) but this year was a whirlwind. My first class was good but I was so nervous that I talked too fast but the parents were nice and one of them even told me that I did all right. The 2nd class I had...well, I was in the wrong building!!! I was waiting and waiting. I was 5 minutes late! I only knew I was in the wrong place because a student's mom showed me her schedule. She totally saved my hide! Then I had to sub one class. The questions and comments were pretty helpful. One parent pointed out that our website it difficult to navigate. Thank goodness I'm hearing it from a parent! Now I can tell Computer Services. It's a new website too but it's so hard to even find anything.
Also, I'm now the sponsor for the Manga Club. I don't know much about manga so today I'm checking some stuff out and then I'll do some online research. It was such a funny request. 2 students came up and started the conversation like I knew what he was talking about.
He said, "We want to start a manga club."
I said, "Oh that's great!"
then he goes, "I don't really know anything about manga but my friend who wants to start the club does."
I'm all "ok." Then I asked him to call that other kid over.
He starts explaining how another teacher can't do it. And that that teacher bring snacks to the anime club. Then he starts going on and on and isn't asking me about becoming a sponsor.
So I go, "So, you want me to be the sponsor?"
and he goes, "well, we heard that you are a really good baker!!! Yes."
WHAT?!?! For my baking skills?!?! My friend, Carolyn and I just started busting up laughing. I mean, really? But you know, I can't really say "no" to that. But I told them "once a week" because I'm a teacher and not made of money.
This month's Book Bistro pick was Daniel Pinkwater's The Neddiad published by Houghton Mifflin, April 2007. I wrote a review about it on Shelfari so I am just going to write about the book club meeting.
