[CALIBK12] When to keep books back from younger students

[Susan Scott]

Last fall there was a great deal of peer pressure and conflict going on 
at my school among the 4/5 girls.  Kristin Lee, who has been a teacher 
in the district and who has a daughter in 5th grade, and I went looking 
for a fiction series that might serve to start conversations about how 
to deal with each other.  We found the Beacon Street Girls series about 
teenage girls.  They are recommended for readers 9 years and older.

I purchased 7 items from the series and showed them to the 4/5 girls.  I 
have been actively discouraging other grade girls from checking them 
out, not necessarily because of the content, but because they are a 
scarce resource with a target audience.

Because I am not the only person who checks out books - I allow students 
to man the circ computer during recess and during classes, and I have 
volunteer parents who also check in and out - some of the younger girls 
have found and checked out these books.  I, however, was not aware of 
that, and have continued to reserve these items for the older girls-even 
discouraging younger students from taking them.

Now, a teacher's child, a second-grader, has asked to take one from the 
series.  I told her that these were not for second graders and did not 
check it out.  The mom is furious, and now the classroom teacher is 
getting in on it.  You can read the teacher's note below.  I have 
removed the child's name from the note.

I have not replied to the teacher, but the parent took me to the 
principal for a fun session.  Do you have any suggestions or support?

Thanks, Susan



Dear Susan,

I need some help understanding the check-out policies for books at  Ohlone.

One of my students has tried twice to check out a  particular book.  
It's my understanding from  that the first  time you told her that it 
wasn't at her reading level.  Today I  witnessed her asking you again 
and you told her, "those books are  only for the 5th grade girls."   and 
I are both confused by this  statement.

There are three of the books from that same series in our room right  
now.  You checked-out these books to 's classmates, who are not  in 5th 
grade.

I have not been aware that there is a policy at Ohlone about certain  
books being checked out to certain students.  Please send me  
clarification so I will know how to respond to 's confusion and  hurt.  
These encounters with you have been very embarrassing to   and she is 
upset.

Thank you!
--Cindy