ALA: Department of Education withdraws federal support for school libraries

WILLIAM H. DAVISON JR, facebook. Our children and grandchildren are our most percious natural resource. Woman marched on Washington D.C. for the right to vote. I call on those same women some mothers so Media Specialist so Libranians to go to D.C. I’am tired of seeing how much the presidents wife is doing for Education. We the people pay our taxes and see it sent over sea to other countries. Our country needs to step up for their children sake and quite counting on the politicans to do right for our children. When ever this country needs attention some group makes it happen. You have messed with the wrong group of people Mr. President. Watch their hair come down out of that bun and come sit on you lawn. These people are the sleeping giants that you have so easly dismissed. I cant wait to see them in D.C. And it will be hard for you to control them because anybody you put out their has the same stake in the matter as those comming. So you had better get your head out of your…. and realize you made a big mistake. I sure that big money doesn’t want children not to have the ability to learn how to do anything.
You have gone to war in this country and its against education. You have gone against everything this country stands for life, liberty, and the happiness. What child has not been helped in a library if they ever went to a library. You have set the stag for dumdown the USA and that is fighting words to anybody. You need to be given a lesson on how to act to bad your mother didnt send you to the library or else you would never cut that from the budget. God Save the USA. 71 year old plumber

I have a poster on my wall that says, “What a school thinks about its library is a measuer of what it thinks about education.” The same holds true for American politics. What politicians think about school libraries is a measure of what they think about education. For supposedly well-educated professionals in any field to disregard the importance of libraries to education is inexcusable. These people need to leave their isolated offices in the White House or Capitol Hill and spend some time in classrooms. See what we are doing in schools. A library is not a dusty place where a few socially awkward individuals pick out books to read because they have nothing better to do. A library is the heart of a school … or rather the brain. The information center. Who do they think will be there to lead students and teachers through the thinking process that goes with analyzing information? Who will be there to inspire a the love of reading that leads to lifelong learning? Who will be there to assist teachers in integrating new technology? Clearly, they do not understand what it is that school libraries and media specialists do.

I’m so disgusted with the lack of support for education in general and specifically for libraries by Democrats currently in office. I voted for Democrats, specifically Obama, because I believed he valued a strong, educated, informed middle class. I no longer believe this is true. That old “Who” song is ringing in my ears: “Meet the new boss… Same as the old boss.”

Well, our country has a debt problem, and needs to prioritize. And something has to pay for those oil company tax subsidies. After all, what’s more important, giving all our children the tools they need to succeed, or making a few incredibly rich people that much richer?

71year old plumber may God strike down people that want to dumdown our chilren and grandchildren. If we had any guts we would show the president are children are very important to the welfare of this country. How does he think they learn not everybody has a computer or internet. We as a nation have fallen out of God graces because we threw him out of school and replaced him with a cop. When I went to school I had a Music teacher, Art teacher, P. E teacher, and our library had a Libirarian or Media Specialist. The school system I went from 7th to 12th grade is now the largest fully accredit school system in the United States, Broward County, Florida. this system has lost its way by poor management ofm money now the students must pay no specialist. Talk about crime stealing from children God is not to happy with taking away their ability to learn. No teacher No Learn…HELP
Education is dead big business is going to pay when they get these student out in the work force. Books are the tools to teach you how to do anything. We can send all types of money every place else in the world but at home. I didn’t stay in study hall I went to the library.

I just don’t get it! Why would anyone want to cut funding, all the while crying…oh, no! we’re in trouble!

Kids can’t read, write, express their thoughts, etc.

I know.

Let’s see how much damage we can do to the library programs kids (and others) depend upon.

I just don’t get it.

Who are these haters?

Candace Broughton, SLMS

My school received the Literacy Through School Libraries grant last school year. I cannot express how grateful we (students, staff, parents) are to have received this grant. The students are now excited about taking books out of the library. We purchased relevant, up to date resources that correlate with state content and curriculum. We have dictionaries that are not falling apart. Students are excited to be able to use a working laptop computer to learn about astronomy, animals, and numerous other subjects in the library.

The students we tutored with grant funding showed improvement. We strengthened parent-school-community connections with the literacy events I hosted in the library through the grant. Staff received needed professional development from the grant to assist in teaching the numerous ELL/ESL students we have in our district. I could go on and on about how this grant has positively impacted our elementary school.

My library is in many instances the only other exposure to books, magazines, and other resources these children get in their lives. We want these children to thrive and to succeed personally and academically.

It is a shame the government does not see the importance in continuing to fund struggling school libraries. Providing up-to-date, content related materials, and items the students are interested in makes sense and can make a positive difference in a child’s life!

This happened in South African schools about 10 years ago, and now we sit with a group of students that cannot do research - and they include engineers, scientists etc.