[CALIBK12] Library Fines in Ed Code?

[Sondra Keckley]

In response to:

"Does the home ec teacher charge the students who drop a bowl in the home
ec room (and please forgive me if home ec is not the correct
political/educational term these days. Or what about a drill that breaks
in the shop. Or the chair that breaks in the classroom. Just because we
can charge doesn't really mean we should."

As a biology teacher for the last 11 years, prior to this year being a teacher-librarian, the students were informed at the beginning of the year in all of their science classes that if they break any lab equipment, whether it was a $0.25 test tube or a $500 microscope, they would be charged for it.  We had formal "lab breakage" slips and I immediately filled it out using the current science supply catalog for that year.  

So, yes, Home Ec or shop may very well also charge, and the library is not the only place that charges to replace a lost or damaged item.  Money is not endless, and we need to manage our limited budgets wisely.  Personally, I want my monies to go toward attaining more books to reach the 25 books per student goal, not to replace the books I already have.

Why should we shelter students from learning to take responsibility, that actions have consequences, and that in "real life" there will be fines, fees, etc?  I think a key difference in this on-line discussion may be elementary vs. high school.  By high school, they should be held accountable and prepared for "real life".


Sondra Keckley
"I am here to help!"
Teacher Librarian
Independence High School 
Bakersfield, CA

-----Original Message-----
From: calibk12-bounces at lists.sjsu.edu [mailto:calibk12-bounces at lists.sjsu.edu] On Behalf Of bwoolls at slis.sjsu.edu
Sent: Wednesday, May 06, 2009 10:43 AM
To: burchm at lompoc.k12.ca.us
Cc: Calib
Subject: Re: [CALIBK12] Library Fines in Ed Code?

If this memory lingers in the heart and soul of a librarian, think of how
it must feel to students and parents who haven't a clue one way or the
other about our profession. We are a tax-supported institution and tax
dollars are used to fund our programs. Yes, lost books are a concern, but
at what cost to library land for ever and ever after when we do things
like charge a standard replacement cost. Maybe we should show how great we
are to replace the book with something equal that doesn't cost $25, or
just ask the parent to replace the lost book with another book and show
the cost of the book -- maybe even finding it at a discount on Amazon.com.

Does the home ec teacher charge the students who drop a bowl in the home
ec room (and please forgive me if home ec is not the correct
political/educational term these days. Or what about a drill that breaks
in the shop. Or the chair that breaks in the classroom. Just because we
can charge doesn't really mean we should.

What the public: parents, students, community, next door neighbor who
hears the tale thinks of any one of us colors what the public thinks of
all of us.

At this point in our lives in California, this is a good time to have
everyone think kindly of school libraries and teacher librarians and
library technicians and aides.

I agree having the price vary to suit the book.  My daughter once
lost a book that was as ratty as it could be; a 1942 copyright that was
ready for the discard pile. I had seen the price on the book as $2.00, and
had remarked how, "Those were the days."

When we were charged for the book, there was a hefty $25.00 charge because
that was what the cost of a new book was. It still makes me mad after all
these years :-)

Mary P. Burch

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