Can you imagine a school of 1,150 students with no librarian?
John Dewey graduated from Burlington High School in 1874. His grave is the only one on the University of Vermont campus. I suspect today's education reform news causes this headstone to rock and roll.
So I wrote this letter. The headline is not mine. I prefer the headline above.
Librarians or ‘cyber-tech’
I am stunned to read the
accounts of changes at Burlington High School. Superintendent
Yaw Obeng talks of plans “for more high-tech, cyber- tech
options,” but longtime principal Amy Mellencamp, who has earned
respect from the community, reveals plans for eliminating a full-time librarian. People who care about Burlington students should
ask: Who do you want making day-to-day decisions about your
children’s needs – the school librarian or the superintendent’s
cybertech option used to deliver dubious content?
SUSAN OHANIAN
Charlotte
PS: I just found my report card from Grade 1. Grades of equal weight were given in:
Social Studies
Reading
Arithmetic
Language Arts
Music and Art (which included enjoyment of music and rhythm and participation in singing)
I also found the one memento I saved from all of elementary school. Contained in a sealed envelope with this label : My first saxophone reed.
I admit to being fascinated by this decision a nine-year-old made about Important Things. I guess this is what happens when a kid doesn't have all those cyber-tech options filling her days.
PS: I just found my report card from Grade 1. Grades of equal weight were given in:
Social Studies
Reading
Arithmetic
Language Arts
Music and Art (which included enjoyment of music and rhythm and participation in singing)
I also found the one memento I saved from all of elementary school. Contained in a sealed envelope with this label : My first saxophone reed.
I admit to being fascinated by this decision a nine-year-old made about Important Things. I guess this is what happens when a kid doesn't have all those cyber-tech options filling her days.
In Newark, they have discarded entire library collections in the dumpster. As they say, "Now we have computers."
ReplyDeleteAbigail Shure
Disgusting! Especially in Newark, where literacy is at its lowest! Shame on them. They will pay for it in the future.
DeleteSophie
I spent many happy days in my school libraries with actual books. Books were my refuge and still are. Libraries gave me a feeling of contentment. Throwing away books and librarians is a travesty.
ReplyDelete