Chronicle Exposes School Libraries

The Houston Chronicle recently displayed plain common sense and leadership on our children's education as squarely based on their school libraries.

The article by Jennifer Radcliffe made the front page and above the fold. By simply letting the facts and experts tell the story, she exposed the stunning reality that HISD and other area Districts are sharply below standards on the number and age of books available in our students' libraries, the availability of professionally educated staff (sometimes no staff at all), and, surprise of surprises, no libraries at all in some schools.
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/headline/metro/5326658.html

Only days later four letters to the Editor were printed, all clearly advocating improvement.
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/editorial/outlook/5334132.html

The next week, another letter writer revealed the state's separate culpability in undermining our libraries.
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/editorial/outlook/5349106.html

In its boldest stance, the Chronicle also ran its own editorial, at the top, further remarking on the the necessity of such a simple component of the educational experience. In fact, the Chron noted that the availability of a well stocked library was SECOND!!!!! only to socioeconomic factors in determining the success of the students on the usual tests - that's SECOND! Good libraries in schools are that important.
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/editorial/5346247.html

If we wish to destroy the next generation, it's easy, take away their books - if not, give them good libraries.