{"content":{"sharePage":{"page":0,"digests":[{"id":"864007","dateCreated":"1187836811","smartDate":"Aug 22, 2007","userCreated":{"username":"dsmalle","url":"https:\/\/www.wikispaces.com\/user\/view\/dsmalle","imageUrl":"https:\/\/ssl.wikicdn.com\/i\/user_none_lg.jpg"},"monitored":false,"locked":false,"links":{"self":"https:\/\/ireadlibrarynews.wikispaces.com\/share\/view\/864007"},"dateDigested":1532287588,"startDate":null,"sharedType":"discussion","title":"Library Media Specialists not needed in public schools","description":"Georgia printed this out from LM_NET and brought it to the library.<br \/>\n<br \/>\nThere is a new bill, H.R. 2864, called SKILLS (Strengthening Kids\u2019 Interest in Learning and Libraries)  which, if passed, would require public schools from elementary through high school to employ one library media specialist.  This bill amends ESEA, Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965.  A librarian in Georgia wrote her legislator, Rep. John Linder, GA to support the bill.  He replied,<br \/>\n<br \/>\n\u201cThank you for contacting me to express your support for H.R. 2864.  I appreciate hearing from you, although, I regret that we disagree on this particular issue.<br \/>\n<br \/>\nH.R. 2864 was introduced by Representative Raul Grijalva  (D-AZ) on June 26, 2007.  This bill amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) of 1965 to require that all public schools, from the elementary through high school level, that receive Federal funds under the ESEA employ at least one highly qualified school library media specialist.  This legislation is currently pending before the House Education and Labor Committee, where is awaits further consideration.<br \/>\n<br \/>\nQuite frankly, I question the need for a library media specialist in every public school, at all levels of instruction.  While I appreciate the importance of employing these specialists in high schools, given that high school students regularly engage in academic research in preparation for college, I do not see the same need in elementary schools or middle schools.  A fourth grade student has little need for a highly trained library specialist who can teach advanced research techniques.  What the fourth grader needs is a librarian who can make reading enjoyable and spur the student to read as much as possible.  Instilling a love of reading in a child does not require an advanced certification in library media studies.<br \/>\n<br \/>\nInstead of burdening states with the \u201cone size fits all\u201d Federal directives, I would prefer to have state and local authorities decide whether or not it is economically feasible or necessary to have library media specialists in schools.  As such, should H.R. 2664 come to the House floor for a vote, I would be inclined to oppose it \u201c<br \/>\n<br \/>\n<br \/>\nTo contact your legislator go to <!-- ws:start:WikiTextUrlRule:13:http:\/\/www.capwiz.com\/ala\/issues\/alert\/?alertid=9951101&amp;PROCESS=Take+Action --><a class=\"wiki_link_ext\" href=\"http:\/\/www.capwiz.com\/ala\/issues\/alert\/?alertid=9951101&amp;PROCESS=Take+Action\" rel=\"nofollow\">http:\/\/www.capwiz.com\/ala\/issues\/alert\/?alertid=9951101&amp;PROCESS=Take+Action<\/a><!-- ws:end:WikiTextUrlRule:13 --> and enter your zip code.  You get links to your Senators and Representatives, and space to add a personal message.  Make sure you identify the bill correctly; in the Senate the bill number is S. 1699 and in the House it is H.R. 2864.","replyPages":[{"page":0,"digests":[],"more":0}]}],"more":false},"comments":[]},"http":{"code":200,"status":"OK"},"redirectUrl":null,"javascript":null,"notices":{"warning":[],"error":[],"info":[],"success":[]}}