Guest Post: A Call to Sign the White House Petition
Today, we feature a guest post by School Library Monthly Advisory Board member and AASL President Carl Harvey.
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On Jan. 4, 2012, I posted a petition on the White House website requesting support and recognition by including school libraries in the new reauthorization of the Elementary Secondary Education Act.
Ensure that every child in America has access to an effective school library program.
Every child in America deserves access to an effective school library program. We ask that the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) provide dedicated funding to help support effective school library programs. Such action will ensure more students have access to the resources and tools that constitute a 21st century learning environment. Reductions in school library programs are creating an ‘access gap’ between schools in wealthier communities versus those where there are high levels of poverty. All students should have an equal opportunity to acquire the skills necessary to learn, to participate, and to compete in today’s world.
We now have until Feb. 4, 2012, to get 25,000 signatures. This is where I need your help. I want to challenge you to find those 5 people and get them to sign the petition. I challenge you to get at least 5 people to sign the petition. The numbers will quickly multiple and we’ll surpass the 25,000 in no time.
The link to the petition is here:
You will need to create an account in order to sign the petition. Some folks who have troubled have suggested trying different browsers, different computers, or even coming back a few days later.
We need more than the school library community to sign this petition. Anyone over the age of 13 is qualified to sign the petition. Teachers, parents, students, community members are all encouraged to sign the petition. Contact your family and friends and ask them to sign as well. This is a perfect opportunity to spread the word about school libraries by asking them to sign the petition.
We can’t wait or assume someone else is going to do this for us. We have to take action for our programs and for the needs of our students. This petition will help raise awareness to the White House that our country values school library programs.
After you have signed, then please begin to share it with others. Post it online, on blogs, on Twitter, and Facebook. Email it out to your friends and colleagues. Please use all your communication methods to help get the word out.
Thank you for your support of the petition!
Carl A. Harvey II
January 12th, 2012 at 3:43 pm
We will need to extend far beyond the AASL membership to reach the goal of 25,000 signatures. It will require the support of parents, teachers, administrators, community members, high school students, university professors and students, etc. So, begin to work on those lists and gather supporters to sign the petition!
Deb Levitov
Managing Editor, School Library Monthly