I was asked this several times over the course of the last few weeks.

In the last few months, I have worked with students in deep diving the impacts and status of school libraries in our state of Delaware. I have noticed that in this topic, student’s voices have been left out of decisions made, as well as the organization and existence of school libraries in our state.

Students have pointed this out to me. They asked me how often they are asked to have a role in the role of the school library when I ask the questions. These statements they have reinforced and emphasized have stood out to me from talking to students from many different districts in Delaware. Their concerns have hit a point where they are asking for some representation in their statements:

“It is ironic that parents that say “Our children” (our is specific to specific children and the parents that say) OUR kids/children are for kids other than me.”

It is so important that those people that say “THEY need to be comfortable” does not include me.

School is supposed to challenge you and should make you uncomfortable with topic – isn’t that how we learn?

“Kids should be learning about things achy and bad sometimes – so they can learn how to talk about it and being in a space and learn how to navigate that and deal with the feelings that come up. I don’t get that chance at home.”

“English has killed my interest in reading.”

“Classes are in our library but no one has ever told me if I can check out a book or how I can check out a book.”

We will begin a series of podcasts and posts that deal with the rising decrease in literacy with the loss of school librarianship in Delaware, with students at the nucleus of this historical issue.

Check back here in a few days to see below some interesting data that students have helped uncover as we break down the history of school librarianship in districts across the state and what student are wanting.