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Once I first heard the information that state-appointed Houston Unbiased College District Superintendent Mike Miles was eliminating “devoted librarians at 28 underperforming faculties,” I used to be dumbfounded. Certainly, a district that lagged behind the nationwide studying common wouldn’t dare take away ANY alternative for college students to learn. Certainly, the biggest public college system in Texas, which I’m a PROUD product of, wouldn’t take beloved studying areas and switch them into disciplinary areas, “the place children with behavioral points will probably be despatched.”
These “staff facilities” as they are going to be referred to as are a part of Miles’ “new schooling system” initiative. Academics at these faculties will quickly have the choice to ship misbehaving college students to those “staff facilities’” – the place they’ll proceed to study remotely.
Let me inform you why I take this personally.
I’ve at all times been a voracious reader. My academics in HISD would usually use my capability to go to the library as a reward. But it surely was a librarian at Dick Dowling Center College, in HISD, who ignited my love of writing. A librarian who instructed me, “You might do that!” after I instructed her I needed to rewrite the ending to “Goldilocks and the Three Bears.” I misplaced myself in my college library – and located myself as effectively. I used to be deathly shy and introverted however books gave me one thing I liked. I discovered one thing that made me energy by way of math and science (lessons I didn’t precisely love) as a result of my reward can be to go to the library. My Houston Unbiased College District libraries at Petersen Elementary, Dowling Center College and Madison Excessive College, ignited an ember that roared right into a full-on flame.
Now….as one of many high African American authors within the nation making ready to launch my 54th guide….a author who has acquired a plethora of awards for writing, together with an NAACP Picture Award for Excellent Literature and a Texas Literary Corridor of Fame honor, who has two films primarily based on my books, a publishing firm that I co-founded….I’m wondering how a lot of that will have occurred had my HISD library not been a protected haven and a springboard.
Books and the roles of college librarians are already underneath assault throughout the nation. It’s disheartening {that a} district, which primarily serves minority kids, would take part that battle. What a solution to make the children really feel like studying is much less vital. My coronary heart weeps for the long run writers whose mild will probably be extinguished by this transfer. I’m devastated in any respect the younger individuals who will lose out on the significance of studying and studying comprehension. For a lot of younger folks, the library is the portal to the surface world. This transfer closes the door.
HISD should do higher.
ReShonda Tate is the Managing Editor of the Defender and the writer of 53 books. www.ReShondaTate.com
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