On another post Anonymous wrote:
Pittsburghers rally to replenish one poor school's library shelves
Pittsburgh Post Gazette
Sheila May-Stein, a Pittsburgh Public Schools rotating librarian, is charged with the task of rebuilding Manchester's dismal library as part of a district-wide change in this year's educational delivery model that calls for each school to have a ...
http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/local/neighborhoods-city/pittsburghers-rally-to-replenish-one-poor-schools-library-shelves-654470/
Is this a relative of David May-Stein, a brand new librarian in Manchester Elem, like Arsenal and Schiller Middles should have been CLOSED due to low enrollment.
This Principal is full of wrong judgments-she does not even have enough of Middle school students to justify this school to a Manchester K-8. Just look at her PSSA numbers.
It is her fault-she made the choice of no librarian.
Getting back to Sheila May-Stein, How did she get this job due to all the furloughs?
Nevertheless, I must give Shelia May-Stein credit with replenishing books. WE as parents feel the school district should be paying out of their tax dollar pockets of to upkeep school libraries.
Just shows it pays to be a relative of a person.
With Perry’s Reading PSSA scores-is library necessary for the whole school?
Let’s be realistic with our tax dollars as finances for relatives to be hired at the Board.
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5 comments:
Prior to site-based stupidity management, principals couldnbt not choose to NOT have a librarian- or spend on a library budget for books. When site-based happened it was a quick fund to raid.
I am always glad to see books in schools, BUT realize that people who have gotte4n grants to do this have been chastised by this administration. To put it in TV terms, this librarian has immunity from reprisals.
Why would anyone not want books you say? Again go back in the blog-- the script wants to dictate which
books are read. The kind of "free- range roaming" that librarians encourage doesnt fit the script. So instead of pushing the 25 books to be read a year, now teachers play with the numbers because, well, his family doesnt encourage him to read qand he read some, so he gets the reward anyway.
Also, the script encourages "classroom libraries"--0 another form of controlling what the students read when.
Even when Manchester had a librarian, they havent had a book budget in 15 years.
Please hear me out.
Well, Manchester has some wealthy community leaders and PPS teachers, retirees and ADM in their nesteled Manchester homes paying taxes in their Manchester addresses on Sheffield, Juanita, amd,,many other streets where new homes are being built for the future.
I disagree with your comments about this school library-and children are to read 25 books a month not a year.
Do not blame it just on curriculum or budget constraints- -that was the choices of the Manchester Principal and ADM for 15 years there.
Apparently, this new Budget for ALL- Lane's new version of Excellence For All-makes it feasible for Perry and Manchester to have a Librarian for a day a week.
Morrow, Colfax, Minadeo, Carrick even former Stevens Elementary has/had great libraries. And let us add great librarians that cared and made their Principa;s care with their students about reading.
Where did all the books go from the closed schools?
Northview Elem had a fab library-where did all their books go?
Holley never rid Library from her budget at Northview. Nor other Principals.
Even when Manchester had a librarian, they havent had a book budget in 15 years.
Your last comment above-I would like to see in writing. Scholastic books are not hardcover-but they could have raised money with charitable contributions. This Principal does not care to try this-as other principals make a difference in their schools-like David May, Holley, and many others that are not magnet..
If what you are saying is carte blanche on what students are reading-there are many great selections my children have brought home tp read from the curriculum that is mandated.
Yet, your passage as an entry gives another concise view what could be atmosphere of learning that is taking place and we parents are not seeing it.
I agree- the librarians and principals at the schools you mentioned were outstanding. Also, the parents-- much like the parents in the 400 other districts in PA- wouldnt think of school without a library! For them it right there with the drinking fountain- of course you have a library! And yes, some PSCC had a strong community prescence--not just parents but community leaders.
When you listen to the board meeting, Dr. Holley took a strong stand in favor of librarians, as did Mark Brentley last year.
But, I have heard that fewer and fewer principals share their budget information with PSCC. They just seem to share scores. I'm sure that as more and more schools were without libraries- it was 3 in 2006-10 in 2011, the fact that they didnt then have to budget for library books just got lost to most PSCC. The schools you mentioned had full time librarians running excellent programs- not just checking out books one day a week. But there is equity in everyone having a minimum library service.
As to where books from closed schools went-- when there was a library supervisor, he knew which schools hadnt had budgets, or which schools needed more of a subject area.
An example from the past with schools that are closed: Beltzhoover school had an excellent librarian for many years with a strong fiction collection which got sent to Burgwin, also now closed. The supervisor sent librarians in to see that the collections were balanced etc. before the start of the school year. Often in the past, much like teachers, the books followed the students when schools closed.
And Equity for All--does mean all-- one of the schools that didnt have a librarian for the past few years was Beechwood. So it isnt just African American students who have been without librarians.
Hopefully this will bring some equity to this fragmente4d district.
5-10 years ago when my kids were in elementary school it was common for at least one or two English teachers to come to the book fair on their free period to shop and drop over $100 on books they wanted for their classrooms. One teacher never seemed to spend less than $150. They paid with personal checks and left excited about what they purchased. Now I wonder if they are deemed "effective" by their principals. I am not promoting that teachers fund their classrooms, only wanted to point out that too infrequently do we recognize the extraordinary. Is there a category for this type of thing in RISE? My fellow parents, it is a new era, time to put positives in writing any time you see effectiveness. Don't trust that our kids or their parents will answer survey questions objectively.
Very true about teachers and book fair kinds of events-teachers also hit the "teachers store" and bought attractive materials to enhance learning. Pricey- sure-but it was worth it to see students' eyes sparkle at the new and shiny.
I agree English and reading teachers often bought multiple copies of novels etc. to supplement the curriculum. Students read books, discussed books together-- even into lunch. Theere was passion.
Now RISE dictates every room having same things posted . There is nothing wrong with goals etc in a room- eye on the prize sort of thing. But every door with the same,every room with the same and people walking through after hours to check on display isnt building effective teachers. Again, look to the other 400 school districts. Teachers still buy classroom books at bookfairs, and display materials. There is excitement in learning.Also note that some schools of education have pulled student teachers from pps. The script is not the real world of education.
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