[CALIBK12] The Case for a Creator...Lee Strobel
Millam, Joy
jmillam at pylusd.org
Wed Mar 5 14:57:00 PST 2008
You may not like my word choice, but I believe that your use of the
phrase "purposeful selection" is little more than imposing particular
values on a community. Most people who censor are those with good
intentions. They are trying to do the right thing. But that is the
problem-who determines what is right, good, moral, or a reflection of
the community?
I involve students in the selection of books; I welcome suggestions from
parents, staff, and administration. Much of the selection falls upon my
shoulders to ultimately make the choices. After considering input, I
purchase accordingly. I also take into consideration the needs of my
various students. Ultimately, I want kids to find books of interest to
them. That may not always be books I care for, but I get them because
the students are my priority. Getting them to read is important.
In my work on the Quick Picks Committee we had a situation last year
where a student read the nominated title by 50 Cent and Noire entitled
Baby Brother (I think that is the one and it was graphic and quite
explicit). He loved the book and expressed interest in reading
more-within 3 months this kid who had never before finished a book was
reading Toni Morrison! This is a true story-sometimes books that are
more graphic can serve as a gateway to better, higher quality books.
Connecting kids with a book is most of the battle. Once they are
transported to a different world via the book, they are hungry for more.
As for my students, they are very self-censoring. If they check out a
book and they find it to be not to their liking they bring it back and
exchange it for others. Often they will tell me that it just wasn't for
them or it was too graphic. I say fine and let's find another one more
to your liking.
I love my students. I want them to read. I won't censor. If that is what
you're saying then we have consensus.
Joy Millam
YALSA Quick Picks for Reluctant Readers Chairperson (2009)
District Library Coordinator/Library Media Teacher
Valencia High School
500 N. Bradford Ave.
Placentia, CA 92870
714-996-4970 x3250
jmillam at pylusd.org
http://www.vhstigers.org/library/mrs_millam.jsp?rn=1816497
http://librarygoddess1network.ning.com/
________________________________
From: David Bogardus [mailto:dabogardus at earthlink.net]
Sent: Wednesday, March 05, 2008 1:56 PM
To: Millam, Joy; David Burt; calibk12 at lists.sjsu.edu
Subject: Re: [CALIBK12] The Case for a Creator...Lee Strobel
Using emotionally charged words such as censor and moral compass makes
me think you are missing the point, or just a strategy to minimize the
argument. I will try to clarify. We are talking about having a
purposeful selection process in place. The library can and should
involve students in the selection process but the library has an
obligation to reflect the values and objectives of the school and
community. This does not imply only one value or objective. That would
be censorship. Our choice is to either allow students to be the "moral
compass" in the selection process, which I implied from many of the
previous statements; or for the librarian to be the designated
representative not only for the students and parents, but for the
overall "good of the many" - guiding those involved to select materials
that meet the higher goals and aspirations of the community. Vicki's
"minimum wage" definition of in loco parentis will just not hold up in a
court of law or in the court of community opinion. As librarians, we can
not be seen as handing candy to strangers, to keep those circulation
numbers up and get our students excited about reading, but we need to
hold ourselves to a higher standard and give them quality materials;
because we care as much for each student (gay, straight, confused or
abused) as we do our own son or daughter. Do we have consensus?
-----Original Message-----
From: "Millam, Joy"
Sent: Mar 5, 2008 11:03 AM
To: David Bogardus , David Burt , calibk12 at lists.sjsu.edu
Subject: RE: [CALIBK12] The Case for a Creator...Lee Strobel
David and Dr. Loertscher,
I'm sorry to disagree with you, but the fact of the matter is that we
have kids who are gay in our schools. If this goes against their
parents' beliefs are you saying that they should not have a book that
might give them comfort? Kids often seek books out to find others like
them-they frequently feel as though they are the only people in the
world feeling a particular way. To censor these books is to prevent them
from feeling a sense of belonging.
A library is a place for learning-a place where curiosities are
satisfied just as a man wandering in the desert seeks water our students
are seeking information. Libraries give students a safe place to learn
more about themselves and others. It is a place of tolerance and grace.
If a parent asks me to block a student from a particular book, I will
absolutely do that. But I will NEVER censor books in an attempt to act
as my community's moral compass. That is a dangerous path to walk upon.
Joy
Joy Millam
YALSA Quick Picks for Reluctant Readers Chairperson (2009)
District Library Coordinator/Library Media Teacher
Valencia High School
500 N. Bradford Ave.
Placentia, CA 92870
714-996-4970 x3250
jmillam at pylusd.org
http://www.vhstigers.org/library/mrs_millam.jsp?rn=1816497
http://librarygoddess1network.ning.com/
________________________________
From: David Bogardus [mailto:dabogardus at earthlink.net]
Sent: Tuesday, March 04, 2008 10:04 PM
To: Millam, Joy; David Burt; calibk12 at lists.sjsu.edu
Subject: Re: [CALIBK12] The Case for a Creator...Lee Strobel
Joy, you could not be more wrong. Speaking personally, our struggle lies
in the fact that our Library Bill of Rights does not include a Parents
Bill of Rights. We are not here just to serve students and their needs.
Our official role as teacher-librarians is to be parents in abstentia.
That means we must act as responsible parents not as babysitters or
waiters to every student's curiosities. There are few parents who have
not set limits or moral boundaries at home. Do we have the right to act
outside the community boundaries parents entrust us with? Do we give our
own children everything they ask for just because we think they will
like it? Do we provide materials when we will not be there to guide and
lead the student as we would our own children? If so, we have reduced
our profession to looking much more like older, seedier professions with
which we would not care to align ourselves.
David Bogardus
-----Original Message-----
From: "Millam, Joy"
Sent: Mar 4, 2008 9:57 AM
To: David Burt , calibk12 at lists.sjsu.edu
Subject: Re: [CALIBK12] The Case for a Creator...Lee Strobel
David,
I would also suggest that in the case of the Rainbow Boys books
and others like them (controversial topics), it is important to have
books for all of your students regardless of whether they will offend
parents. Your students are your clients, the parents must parent (they
can dictate what books their own children are allowed to read). It
should be a priority to give every student a book they can relate to
personally.
Joy Millam
District Librarian / Teacher Librarian
YALSA's Quick Picks for Reluctant Readers Committee Chairperson
Valencia High School
Placentia, CA
714-996-4970 x3250
jmillam at pylusd.org
http://bookdiva1.blogspot.com/
http://booktalksandmore.pbwiki.com
http://www.vhstigers.org/library/mrs_millam.jsp?rn=3833
"Libraries are not made; they grow." - Augustine Birrell
-----Original Message-----
From: calibk12-bounces at lists.sjsu.edu on behalf of David Burt
Sent: Tue 3/4/2008 8:05 AM
To: calibk12 at lists.sjsu.edu
Subject: Re: [CALIBK12] The Case for a Creator...Lee Strobel
Of course a teacher can discuss a book with a student. The
question
comes in to play when considering who is part of the
conversation. I
was often asked about my religion in the classroom since my own
children
attended this high school and the students knew our religion.
When
students would ask me questions in front of the class, I would
respond
with brief, factual answers. When their questions steered
towards
doctrine, I would inform them, as politely as I could, that we
would
have to discuss that after school, since that had crossed the
line.
When discussing religion in history, I always emphasized the
need to
understand people's belief to show how it influenced their
actions.
This was a little trickier as I am no expert on other religions.
It is
an approach that seems to work. No parents have complained yet.
The First Amendment says "Congress shall make no law respecting
an
establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise
thereof; or
abridging the freedom of speech". Consequent court decisions
have
narrowed what can be discussed or done, but none have outlawed
the
discussion of religious belief in the school.
Articles 1 and 2 in the ALA Library Bill of Rights state
I. Books and other library resources should be provided for the
interest, information, and enlightenment of all people of the
community
the library serves. Materials should not be excluded because of
the
origin, background, or views of those contributing to their
creation.
II. Libraries should provide materials and information
presenting all
points of view on current and historical issues. Materials
should not be
proscribed or removed because of partisan or doctrinal
disapproval.
(Underlining added)
As for buying the books, the only question to me would be, "will
they
circulate?" If there is a group of students who want to read
them,
order them. With only two weeks in the Library, one of my
former
students came in and asked me to buy the Rainbow Boys series of
books.
I was hesitant at first, but finally realized that it didn't
matter if
some parents were offended, as long as those books were read.
Those
three books circulate regularly, and if forced to defend them,
one of my
tools will be those circulation figures.
Best of Luck,
David J. Burt
Teacher Librarian
Southwest High School
El Centro, CA
dburt at cuhsd.net <mailto:dburt at cuhsd.net>
http://library.eaglesnet.net
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