A “Sampler Set” for Blog Beginners

If you have become as addicted to author and book bloggers as much as I have, here are some you may want to check out. Enjoy!

Free your mind and the rest will follow

Warning: this post contains scenes of graphic violence and dangerous opinions by Shannon Hale, author of The Goose Girl and Princess Academy

Left and right have closed their minds by John Dickerson, pastor of the Cornerstone Church in Prescott

So what do these two links have in common? Funny you should ask. As someone who has been around awhile (and, no, you don't need to know HOW long), I have lots of opinions. Strongly held opinions. Religious and political opinions. Do my students know what those opinions are? Absolutely not.

I was an insurance agent (organized) and then a special education teacher (flexible), and always an avid reader with fond memories of both the public library in my small town, and the librarian at my high school. So, when it was suggested that I take the librarian position at my high school, I jumped at the chance. Three years later, I've realized what my passion really is. One of my favorite library quotes:

Perhaps no place in any community is so totally democratic as the town library. The only entrance requirement is interest.
- Lady Bird Johnson

The library is where ANYONE can be exposed to EVERYTHING.

When I taught the Work Experience program at our high school, one of the activities I led was to present to the class two opinion statements that were opposite each other. I would poll the students to determine what side they were on, and then assign them to a team to debate the opposite side. I explained to them that as future workers, they must be able to cooperate and collaborate with their colleagues. In their preparation for their debate, they had to find all the logical, cogent reasons that someone would argue FOR this opinion - that they happened to disagree with initially. During the debate, yelling, name calling, put downs and all other unprofessional behavior was verboten. The point of this activity was to make them realize that there are many sides to every question, and it would be valuable to them to be able to see all of them. And, that sometimes people can agree to disagree without disrespecting each other.

As an educator, we are more than just passers on of knowledge. We open students eyes to ALL the possibilities that are out there. This is why I don't share my personal opinions with my students, but I WILL show them how to find many different opinions. How can you make an informed decision if you are only exposed to one point of view?

This is also why I count myself among the many librarians who are opposed to censorship. More favorite quotes:

A truly great library contains something in it to offend everyone. - Jo Godwin

Don't join the book burners. Don't think you are going to conceal faults by concealing evidence that they ever existed. Don't be afraid to go into your library and read every book.
- Dwight D. Eisenhower

A library is the delivery room for the birth of ideas,a place where history comes to life. - Norman Cousins

It is not my role to decide what you should or should not read. Seek out information from many different sources, and think for yourself. If I've provided you with that window to the world, then I've done my job.