Senate File 171

Ben's question #14 to his Leather Apron Club. "Have you lately observed any defect in the laws of your country, of which it would be proper to move the legislature an amendment? Or do you know of any beneficial law that is wanting?"

Yes, Ben, I have recently observed a defect in the laws of our country, specifically of our state. Our state congress wishes to rescind the mandate (Senate File 171 introduced by Sen. McKinley on Feb. 10, 2011) that all school districts have at least one librarian. I find it interesting that a district could not fund ONE librarian for the benefit of their students. I wonder who purchases their books. Do they read reviews? Do they base selection on their students' interests and comprehension levels? Are they familiar with the school curriculum in all subject areas and grade levels? Do they know the current changes in the Dewey Decimal system? Do they know the depth of the current library collection, it's strengths and weaknesses? Do our congressmen know that teacher librarians are information literacy teachers, teaching students how to: evaluate large quantities of information and to cite them correctly; how to use newer technologies, such as wikis, blogs, Googledocs, Prezi; how to build a website; how to find age-appropriate authoritative sources for their research? Do they know why these skills are crucial to the 21st century citizen? Teacher librarians do.
http://coolice.legis.state.ia.us/Cool-ICE/default.asp?Category=billinfo&Service=Billbook&menu=false&hbill=sf171