NSW Children’s Book Council President, Carol Keeble, has written a fine editorial in this month’s newsletter urging all who value books and literacy to lobby local, state and national legislators about the need for teacher librarians and school libraries. We post it here with permission.
Teacher Librarians: A dying breed?
Click here for a sample letter with current correspondence with the Shadow Education Minister, ChristopherPyne.
post from G Phillips
Federal budget time looms around the corner on the 12th of May.
Do we have anything to say about it?
You bet we do. Ask your federal member and senator now (then also ask your state member!):
The federal government will still be spending money on building new school libraries. How about staffing them?
We need to let politicians and the public know how inequitable school library services are in Australia, whether we have nice new “infrastructure” buildings or not. NT remote schools have no TLs. WA primary schools have no TLs appointed. Vic and ACT count TLs as part of teaching staff, may or may not have a teacher deployed in the library and do not require that teacher to be a teacher librarian. Probably one in 10 public primary schools in Vic have TLs. In South Australia in 2002 apart from those very small schools with no teacher librarian entitlement, a third of school libraries around the state were understaffed and/or staffed with unqualified personnel.
Even in Tas and Qld principals are being forced by inadequate staffing budgets to downgrade staff in school libraries, often to clerical positions. It’s not good enough.
Meanwhile, since the early 70s NSW primary schools have been staffed with trained teacher librarians. While too often used for teacher relief planning time, they nevertheless are professionally trained in collection management, literacy support, leadership, collaborative teaching and other unique TL professional standards. If we are talking about equity, I know we agree that ALL Aus students deserve professional school library services run by professionally trained TLs.
What can the federal government do?
National standards can be written for school library facilities and staffing, especially primary libraries.
Dollars can be allocated to increase teacher librarian training positions in university programs.
Federal state school funding can be tied to appropriate school library staffing levels.
The federal government will still be spending money on computers. How can we make sure students can use them?
MCEETYA (Performance Measurement and Reporting Taskforce, 2005) defines ICT literacy as being able to“access, manage and evaluate information, develop new understandings, and communicate with others in order to participate effectively in society” (Statements of Learning for ICT, 2006).
The Council of Australian University Librarians defines information literacy almost identically: “an understanding and set of abilities enabling individuals to recognise when information is needed and have the capacity to locate, evaluate, and use effectively the needed information” (CAUL, 2005). Bringing these literacies (an example matrix) together should be a future aim for MCEETYA. A learning statement on information and ICT literacy should be supported by a national statement on the role of teacher librarians, teachers and principals in creating information literate school communities.
The federal government will still be spending money on a National Schools Assessment and Data Centre. Will they be collecting appropriate data on school libraries?
Julia Gillard has stated (see letter attached) that it is likely that COAG will be considering the need for better data on teacher librarians.
We must make sure that separate data is collected on teacher librarian qualifications, library staffing and scheduling and on library funding across all states and territories and all sectors. (See US example.) This must be part of the government’s “transparency and accountability” policy.
The federal government will still be spending money on improving literacy. The role of teacher librarians and school libraries must be recognized in these efforts.
The federal government could fund programs similar to the US Improving Literacy Through School Libraries grants program.
The government should fund research into the effect of well-staffed, well-funded school libraries on improving literacy. 1997 was one of the last in Australia! This study indicated that “Extensive use of the school library can increase literacy achievement by as many as 27 points. J. Masters and M. Forster. Mapping Literacy Achievement: Results of the 1996 national School English Literacy Survey. ACER, Melbourne, 1997.
International research speaks strongly. Teacher librarians give students the opportunity to read by providing materials of interest and books appropriate to each student’s reading level. In addition, school library programs provide ready access to books. According to Stephen Krashen it is unnecessary to urge young people to read more and understand the importance of reading because, given the chance, they do in fact read quite a bit, and they certainly do understand the importance of reading…. More access to reading results in more reading.
All literacy programs should explicitly recognize the central role school libraries have in “student achievement, literacy attainment, and preparation for post-secondary success” (Ontario Coalition for School Libraries) .
So let our federal members and senators know we expect to see school libraries targeted in the budget! Attach copies of your letters in comment space below. School libraries make a difference!
It’s wonderful to see that the Tasmanian branch of the AEU has a current school libraries campaign. Their letter for principals can be read here, and they argue their case succinctly. We couldn’t put it better than their 8 points of why schools should make their library the vibrant hub of the school.
Also from Tassie (via Canberra) we hear the voice of Senator Christine Milne, education spokesperson for the Greens, speaking of the recent stimulus package for education,
“Now is not a time to be underinvesting in the human capital. Whilst it is very important for us to be putting in new infrastructure in schools, that is only part of the answer. There is no point in having a new school library if you do not have a trained teacher librarian to maximise the educational opportunities for the students in the school.”
I wish I could fit that on a t-shirt.
Moving slightly north, another advocate that has appeared recently is the Australian Children’s Literature Alliance. With Libby Gleeson and Bronwen Bennett, both champions of school libraries, on board, we look forward to seeing what they’ll get up to, but it’s exciting to read that Australia will soon be getting a national children’s laureate. You can read a little bit about it here. Based out of the State Library of Victoria, it ties in with the Victorian Government’s Centre for Books, Writing and Ideas. If only Mr Brumby could open up all the “centres for books, writing and ideas” that are closed in his schools, to ensure every Victorian child has regular access to a library in their school.
One of the unique aspects of teacher librarians in schools is how well many of them are networked with their colleagues around Australia and the world. Necessity was the mother of this invention, as always, born in the days of interlibrary loans and strengthened by the often isolated environment of a staff of one or two. So it is good to see that after the success of Hubber Barbara B’s Teddybear drive in the weeks following the Canberra bushfires in 2003, TLs from Australia and around the world are once again sending fluffy friends to those children affected by the recent Victorian fires. If you would like to donate a new teddy to the drive, they can be posted or delivered to
Mt Lilydale Mercy College, 12o Anderson St, Lilydale VIC 3140
Kildare Campus, Lavalla Catholic College, PO Box 1080, Traralgon VIC 3844 (or Kosiosko St, Traralgon)
Werribee Primary School, Deutgam Street, Werribee VIC 3030
Of course, these aren’t the only children who benefit from the extensive network of school libraries worldwide. The International Association of Librarianship (IASL) provides “an international forum for those people interested in promoting effective school library media programs as viable instruments in the educational process”. Membership is divided into zones, with fees based on the GNP index for country of residence, so that, for example, those of us in Australia help to subsidise those in Afghanistan, who might otherwise be unable to be meet the full cost of membership. Sure, it’s usually a lot of travel to attend a conference, but what else lets you claim a tax deduction for a trip to Italy? Seriously though, it’s a great experience to meet fellow-professionals from around the globe and is first rate PD. Don’t ever think that video conferencing can replace the real thing, they’re not even in the same league.
You can read more about IASL here.
The $A42 billion stimulus package passed through the Senate today means lots of investment in primary school libraries around the country, which is fantastic news. Let’s hope students are able to get plenty of access to the resources, beyond the weekly scheduled hour (or less) that so many seem to be restricted to.
If anyone still needs convincing that kids and books are the perfect combination, then here’s the definitive proof, demonstrated in just 92 seconds.
Thanks to Jacquie Porkchop in Canada for sending this link. No, that’s not her real name, but she knows who she is.
The continuing argy bargy over who is responsible for school library staffing is beginning to grate. How long can we allow the federal government to continue to fob us off with “Ensuring that there were trained librarians in libraries would therefore be a responsibility of the states “? (See latest response to questions on notice in the current Senate inquiry.) Let’s look at some examples of the way the federal government can influence staffing, and has in the past.
The federal government should now have the responsibility for the
I was possibly one of a few who caught the PM’s “fireside chat” announcing the latest economic stimulus package. Everyone else, including my husband, was rightly still at the beach. And I surely was one of a small minority who let out a whoop when school libraries were mentioned!! Now that the dog and I have settled down, memory nags. Didn’t something like this happen back in the 70s? Some 1200 new secondary libraries were built by 1977 with Commonwealth grants, following intense lobbying by ASLA, LAA (now ALIA), ALPC, state government and other groups and individuals.
I can tell you it was an exciting time to be visiting new NSW school libraries armed with that powerful departmental furniture catalogue!!
Yet a survey of all state and territory supervisors of school libraries at that time found that by 1978 there were only some 3500 qualified (at least the equivalent of one term full-time training in school librarianship) teacher librarians in Australia, although 5000 more were needed to meet the standards outlined in the Schools Commission’s standards, Books and Beyond.
Since then, no one is even keeping track. The federal government can not tell you how many TLs there are in school libraries. How many “state and territory supervisors of school libraries” even exist anymore to ask? ALIA can not tell you how many TL graduates there are in Australia. ASLA can not tell you how many TLs are needed to be trained to staff Australia’s 6,853 (2007 figures) government schools to their professional standards. State departments of education don’t even distinguish between classroom teachers and teacher librarians in their staffing statistics. So they can’t tell you which schools have no teacher librarians, let alone what training their TLs might have.
Yet there IS anecdotal evidence and some preliminary data which shows that all too few Australian primary school libraries are staffed to professional standards. For example, possibly up to half the primary schools in Victoria do not have teacher librarians. The Northern Territory has very few professionally trained primary teacher librarians and none in remote schools, and government primary schools in Western Australia are not staffed with teacher librarians.
So we ask the question (updated) which was asked in the 1970s:
What use are 21st century primary school libraries if they are not staffed by 21st century teacher librarians?
Today might be a good day to ask a state senator (click for sample letter and suggested email addresses).
gp
Since 1975, Australia (independent of Britain) has honored many of its citizens on the 26th of January. This year 405 Medals of the Order of Australia were awarded for “service worthy of particular recognition.” The Member of the Order of Australia is also awarded for “service in a particular locality or field of activity or to a particular group.” 129 were awarded this year.
We are pleased that at least one librarian, Liz Ellis, received an OAM for her work within the State Library of NSW. June Smith, received one for her work in promoting children’s literature, especially through the CBC, and Jean Ferguson, bookseller, reviewer, educator, and promoter of children’s and adult literature, received one for her contribution to libraries, teacher librarianship and reading promotion. We congratulate them heartily and thank them mightily for the generosity of their time and energy.
So that is at least three associated with books and reading. Perhaps you can find more. You can search the Awards data base yourself.
Meanwhile, take a guess how many sports-associated people received an OAM? 75.
As stated on the Honours website, “Australian honours are unique in that they were designed for the community to make nominations. The Australian honours system is free of patronage or political influence. Anyone can nominate an Australian citizen for an honour.”
Is this a clear demonstration, then, of what it is we ordinary Australian citizens honour in Australia? Or are these honours out of step with common values? Who might you nominate for next year’s OAMs??
According to Emma Macdonald in the Canberra Times today, the Federal government is now spending more than $2 billion dollars to provide every Year 9-12 student in Australia with a computer.
Laptops which get vandalized, lost, stolen, and will mostly be used for? Learning???? Yet we know that school libraries which are well stocked and staffed make a significant difference to student learning and literacy. (See our Research pages.) We don’t know that computers have the same impact on literacy and learning!
How badly off are some of our government school libraries? Surveys of school libraries in the NT indicated last year that most schools had less than $1000 a year to spend. (No wonder the ABC has pitched in to help buy books for indigenous kids.)
Let’s see. Average price of a book c. $30. Government schools (you know, the ones which educate two thirds of the nation’s students, but only get one third of the federal funds.) 6,853. How many books might that money provide for every government school, especially the ones who now have library budgets of $1000 to $5000 per year. Check my maths. $291,843 per government school or 9728 books each!!! That can’t be right, can it?
Almost 10,000 new books to share, or one laptop not to share. We know what Phillip Pullman would say! He and other UK authors have let Chesterfield school know ”that it will become a ‘byword for philistinism and ignorance’ if it goes ahead with the closure of its library” as it becomes a ’virtual learning environment’.
Let your federal member know what you think. Libraries or laptops??
gp
Why has Julia Gillard picked Joel Klein, Chancellor of New York Public Schools, as an educational messiah? Seems to me it would make more sense to look at what makes the top education systems in the world work so well, not New York, but Finland.
The Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) is an internationally standardised assessment that was jointly developed by participating countries and administered to 15-year-olds in schools. At the 15 September National Curriculum Board NSW Forum in Sydney, which I attended, Dr. Barry McGaw, Chair, National Curriculum Board, introduced statistics on the decline of Australia in the OECD PISA Reading tables from 2002 (4th) to 2006 (7th), mainly in the higher percentile bands. (Yet we do much more for remedial reading than we do for the gifted, in terms of staffing and funding.) In literacy, Australia slipped from equal second to equal sixth from 2000 to 2006 in the ratings. The US hardly rates a mention in science and literacy. Australia is actually higher in science than the US. Finland is tops in both…….
As top performer in science in PISA 2006 Finland was followed by Hong Kong-China, Canada, Chinese Taipei, Estonia, Japan and New Zealand. U.S. students placed 29 out of 57 countries in science literacy and 35 out of 57 in math literacy.
Trevor Cobbold of Save Our Schools, Canberra, has stated in his recent blog, “Julia Gillard would have done better to invite Dr. Sakari Karjalainen, Director-General of Finland’s Ministry of Education, to advise on effective policies to improve equity in education rather than someone whose policies have been shown to be ineffective.” Read further at the SOS blog about the lack of achievement in New York schools and what Cobbold calls Klein’s skulduggery in hiding the truth. Chris Bonner has also looked at the lack of evidence for Klein’s so-called achievements. The Australian Education Union also has analyzed the evidence which reveals a remarkable lack of achievement in Klein’s New York model.
Open your eyes to the facts, Julia. Highly qualified and rewarded teachers, by Finland’s example, are what gets results, not “skulduggery” and league tables.
PS. In the interest of openness and transparency, I should also declare my Finnish ancestry:-).
