Am I right to be angry..........(warning images are horrid) (Page 2)

I have to wonder what is educational about "Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark"?

Why is it in the school library to begin with? Regardless of the age of the child I doubt there is a lot of educational value in this book.

Really? Because that would be appropriate for 5th and 6th graders? The book in question seems like it would be fine for a child in 5th or 6th grade.

Some school libraries break the room down by appropriate ages/grades and some do not. Some are broken down K-2 and 3-5 or 6. However, I can see how not every library has this option. Maybe they have limited space.

There are going to be a lot of things that happen at school parents do not agree with. We can only control what we can control holding the teacher responsible for a childs every action is keeping them from teaching which is a HUGE problem in most schools.

I understand that there are 1000's of books in an elementry school library, but I do expect someone to know what is in every book and not the teacher. 

The school library could put a little color sticker on each book for what would be age appropriate, not a perfect system but something. 

My son can't can't rated R videos, rated R games from a store, but can walk into the school library and borrow any book he wants.  That doesn't seem right to me.

I understand that there are 1000's of books in an elementry school library, but I do expect someone to know what is in every book and not the teacher. 

The school library could put a little color sticker on each book for what would be age appropriate, not a perfect system but something. 

My son can't can't rated R videos, rated R games from a store, but can walk into the school library and borrow any book he wants.  That doesn't seem right to me.

Totally agree, Keri - frankly the school is in a no-win situation.  Let's say another child tries to check out the book but is refused.  The child tells his parents. Their reaction is different and insists that it's their child's discretion and their parenting to decide what he should or shouldn't be reading.  Then the librarian is in trouble for censoring. Totally no win.

I know one summer when i babysat i would take the kids to the library.  The boy was not a reader at all but letting him check out books on bats, snakes, scary stories got him interested in reading ... not what I would prefer but I wanted him to read something!

Okay. That's one suggestion.

Who, or what, might thoroughly know the contents of every single book in the library?

Who, or what, and how, might decide what is age appropriate?

Who, or what, and how, sees to it that no child of inappropriate age can get that book out of the library?

There should be someone in charge of the library, who puts the books back on the shelf, when a book falls apart who throws it out.  Someone should be in charge of the library and that same person is the one who checks the books out.  A child can't just walk into the library and decide to take a book.  When my son doesn't turn his books back in on time the school they let me know very quickly.

If nobody knows what is in the books, then there could be inappropriate material for all ages of the school.  So I would say, someone should definitly know what is on the shelf.

I would be fine with the education system deciding on age appropriateness for a book and I would ask them to caution on not letting a child check out a book if it's borderline.  If the school tells my son he can not borrow a book, and he asks me about it, then I can talk to him about it, look at the book and I would get him the book if I feel it's appropriate.

This is a great thread, it is really making me wonder how my our elementry school handles and I am going to look into it.

I have to wonder what is educational about "Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark"?

Why is it in the school library to begin with? Regardless of the age of the child I doubt there is a lot of educational value in this book.

We're talking about an elementary school library - it's hardly extensive holdings ...

But it's funny that you mention video rentals - you never know. My sister had a friend who is ridiculously tall. She could rent R rated movies without question by the time she was 12.  So they did - and now that I think about it's funny that no one ever asked - we were in a small town.  Different situations.

Definitely there's a right to feel what you feel - you can/should approach the school - have a discussion.  But it also should happen with your son. 

There should be someone in charge of the library, who puts the books back on the shelf, when a book falls apart who throws it out.  Someone should be in charge of the library and that same person is the one who checks the books out.  A child can't just walk into the library and decide to take a book.  When my son doesn't turn his books back in on time the school they let me know very quickly.

If nobody knows what is in the books, then there could be inappropriate material for all ages of the school.  So I would say, someone should definitly know what is on the shelf.

I would be fine with the education system deciding on age appropriateness for a book and I would ask them to caution on not letting a child check out a book if it's borderline.  If the school tells my son he can not borrow a book, and he asks me about it, then I can talk to him about it, look at the book and I would get him the book if I feel it's appropriate.

This is a great thread, it is really making me wonder how my our elementry school handles and I am going to look into it.

Or maybe, just MAYBE, there should be some one in charge of the child, called a parent.

There should be someone in charge of the library, who puts the books back on the shelf, when a book falls apart who throws it out.  Someone should be in charge of the library and that same person is the one who checks the books out.  A child can't just walk into the library and decide to take a book.  When my son doesn't turn his books back in on time the school they let me know very quickly.

If nobody knows what is in the books, then there could be inappropriate material for all ages of the school.  So I would say, someone should definitly know what is on the shelf.

I would be fine with the education system deciding on age appropriateness for a book and I would ask them to caution on not letting a child check out a book if it's borderline.  If the school tells my son he can not borrow a book, and he asks me about it, then I can talk to him about it, look at the book and I would get him the book if I feel it's appropriate.

This is a great thread, it is really making me wonder how my our elementry school handles and I am going to look into it.

Or maybe, just MAYBE, there should be some one in charge of the child, called a parent.

not quite into burning books....

So you think the educators of my child, the guardians of my child through times that are very influential in his life, should not be held accountable for the material he is allowed to select......so, no restrictions on web sites he browses from the school IT room?    I'm sorry, I think the school have the responsibility to guide a child away from inappropriate material.  and in my mind this isn't close to appropriate.

First of all you are the guardian of your child not the school or it's teachers.

Lets just say we don't let the child take the book home and then get the call as to why we are restricting your child from reading what he likes...

What is not appropriate for you may be for someone else.

Where, how do you draw the line?

I think that is a parents responsibility and you can choose what you think is or is not appropriate.

Okay, these were my questions, and below--verbatim from your reply--are your answers. See how I'm not convinced this would work?

Look, I'm open. I'm willing to be convinced here. But not one single person in this thread has proposed a practical, implementable system.

I don't think it's possible. But again, I'm all ears.

And sure, it's all good to go and speak with school officials--but what would parents say? It might be wise to think of practical solutions to propose, either on an individual-child or a systemic basis, that parents and school employees could reasonably work together on to implement.

Otherwise, people are just blowing hot air over a non-solvable issue.

Who, or what, might thoroughly know the contents of every single book in the library? someone

Who, or what, and how, might decide what is age appropriate? the educational system (still doesn't answer how)

Who, or what, and how, sees to it that no child of inappropriate age can get that book out of the library? someone in charge of the library (still doesn't answer how)