Reply to Inequality of DCPS Libraries

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Reply to "Inequality of DCPS Libraries"

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]What this library article and the recent report on at-risk funds and where they were distributed so plainly and painfully point out is the incredible disparity within the DCPS system.  It is outrageous.  How can the administration allow the rich schools to continue to have it all while schools in lower SES have so much less?  If some schools have a librarian, and some do not, then why can't these staff be shared-- giving everyone a part time librarian?
Each school should be given an equal chance.
If Lafayette has 28,000 books, why shouldn't some of those books be redistributed to schools in need?[/quote]

The system doesn't "allow rich schools to continue to have it all." The have-not schools get significantly more in per-pupil funding. The have schools make it up with fundraising. If Lafayette is anything like my elementary school, DCPS didn't pay for those 28,000 books, the parents did. The only way to eliminate inequality would be to ban fundraising, which would drive a lot of the wealthier families out of the system. It's not a simple problem.[/quote]

DCPS HAS NOT VALUED LIBRARIES!!!  For a LONG TIME.  The books at "wealthier schools" were put their because parental involvement got parental contributions to either 1) support the library via PTA or other outside funding or 2) allocate scarce budget dollars from DCPS budget to books and librarian.

From the article, "In 2012, Henderson eliminated funding for librarians in schools that have fewer than 300 students and made the position optional for larger schools."

The graph in the article is confusing since it shows at-risk and not at-risk students' access to books in their libraries.  Funding (or not) of libraries is by school, not by at-risk student.  The article may be discussing 'at-risk students' and framing the question about their access to books only because there is a pot of money for 'at-risk students' and some of this could 'easily' be redirected to libraries.

It is crazy to talk about technology as a replacement for books in early childhood and elementary education.  Technology costs a TON OF MONEY -- you buy the device that breaks or wears out withing 5 years and it costs many multiples of book prices.  But you also need to buy the tech support to upgrade and repair the devices regularly.

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