[school-discuss] getting to know the membership : this happened less than 60 miles from my home. What's it like where you live?

[mike eschman <meschman@engima.com>]

ctor, defended librarians' ability to select books and other resources for 
students.

"We hire qualified librarians who have been trained, who love reading and who 
love kids," she said. "I trust their judgment that they are going to purchase 
books that are good for kids."

Louisiana Association of School Librarians president Jerilyn Woodson said she 
agreed that parents should determine what their children read, "but it should 
not be removed from a library shelf." Other parents have the right to allow 
their child to read the same book, she said.

Librarians choose books based on their training, school curriculums, and 
reviews and recommendations in library and educational journals, she said.

Different complaint process

Complaints in Plaquemines schools now are handled by the librarian or teacher, 
and bumped up to the superintendent when needed, Roberts said.

Neither Roberts nor Hoyle knew of any other book that had been challenged.

Under the proposed policy, parents would fill out a form detailing their 
objections to a book. Librarians and school principals would respond 
initially to the complaint.

If the complaint was not settled, it would be referred to a committee 
consisting of the librarian, the school principal, a teacher, and two 
community representatives.

If the committee's decision was unsatisfactory, then the individual making the 
complaint could apply to the superintendent, and finally, the School Board, 
she said.

Challenged materials would remain in circulation until the process was 
completed.

Roberts said librarians intended the intellectual freedom statement to 
prohibit discrimination against students using resources, not to usurp 
parental authority.

The proposed policy affirms parents' role, Roberts said.

"Children have the right to freedom of inquiry and access to information; 
responsibility for abridgment of that right is solely between an individual 
child and the parent(s) of that child," the policy said.

. . . . . . .

Sandra Barbier can be reached at sbarbier@timespicayune.com or (504) 826-3784.

08/15/02