In his recent post Difference Between a Bureaucrat and a Teacher thirty-year educator and teacher-librarian extraordinaire, Al Smith, comments that the golden age of education in British Columbia is over. And I don't think that he's waxing poetic either. Teachers and more importantly, BC students and the education system, are in for a huge surprise (and … Continue reading One Heck of a September: The Perfect Storm? →

This past weekend, I helped a group of young, motivated, and enthusiastic young adults (and this was on a Sunday morning!) move and transport over $50 000 worth of lighting, sound, and camera equipment for a day of shooting (film, not ducks) in the beautiful Slocan Valley of the West Kootenays.Our school, L.V. Rogers Secondary … Continue reading Quiet on the Set: Authentic Learning in an Authentic Environment →

In a terrific paper on teacher-librarian advocacy, Dr. Gary Hartzell argues that the only real traction (in terms of advocacy for teacher-librarians) is to strike at the heart of educational administration training. We need to set our sights on the professors and instructors in the hollowed hall of higher learning that help churn out our … Continue reading Hartzell: Despairing of School Library Advocacy →

After only nine weeks since its inception and with nearly 200 members on board, the British Columbia Teacher-Librarians' social network has not been without its detractors.Over the past few weeks there have been several comments on the BCTLA Google Groups forum expressing concern about the extra effort that will be required after joining the new … Continue reading Change IS Necessary →

A young superintendent with a progressive educational mindset. Don't see many of these around...Sadly, we just need about another 40 more of these kinds of people in positions of influence.Chris Kennedy shares his thoughts on what education is in the new media.2011 May YEM from SFU Education on Vimeo.

In the face of mounting reports of teacher-librarians being axed and school library availability being drastically reduced I suppose it's hard to stay positive. It looks as though the onslaught has begun.If you're interested here's a brief list of what's happening to our colleagues in eastern Canada within the past two weeks.The Toronto StarThe Globe … Continue reading Teacher-Librarian to become Extinct? →

Ron Gutman is a guy who loves to smile. Research has shown that smiling is a powerfully instinctual action. And the benefits easily outweigh the drawbacks.Simply, I love to smile. It just seems so much easier than the alternatives.How about you? How many times a day do you smile? Gutman says kids smile up to … Continue reading Smile Baby Smile →

In his monologue yesterday, Jian Ghomeshi, the host of CBCs Q, defended the teacher-librarian as more and more school districts across North America begin their termination of positions.He're a guy who gets it. An voracious reader. A parent. And a concerned member of society that recognizes that while the landscape of information media has changed, the necessary help … Continue reading Q: Who will speak for the (teacher-) librarian? →

Ahhhhhh...Smell that?Yes, the wonderful and rich aromas of spring time renewal.But that other smell? Sure. Concentrate. It's out there. If you're a teacher-librarian in North America then you may already be acutely aware of this odour.It's budgetary and staffing time in school districts big and small, rural and urban, and that familiar smell is of teacher-librarians … Continue reading What’s That Smell…? →

Not sure what's gotten into Seth Godin lately. I probably shouldn't be questioning his motivations and intentions, but here's an award-winning author; the kind of guy that the young marketing dudes revere with the utmost of respect. With even his books Linchpin and Tribes influencing countless number of business executives and MBA schools, Godin turns … Continue reading Godin: the NEXT Library →