I’m not a huge fan of the library. Is that a crazy thing for a language arts teacher to say? It probably is. So I take it back, sorta.
When I was in school, every time a teacher took us to the library for some lame research project, I would goof off. Crazy, right? Me, ahappyteacher, wasting class time? Truth was I hated the books, I hated the card catalog, and searching a page for information was just painful. I come from a Googlemethis generation, and to be honest, I’m proud of it. We get it on our kindle, we take notes on our iPad, the bibliography is formatted for me on www.easybib.com .
So maybe I’ve been a little lax these past few years in taking my kids down there. Just because I didn’t see a use as a kid, or a college kid, or a grad student, doesn’t make the library old school? Or does it?
Regardless, we headed down there for a cross-curricular project with social studies this week. The kids used books and google, in harmony, and I have to say I’m pretty proud of them. They worked harder than I did as a student and really I feel like their understanding is deeper than any I would have had at their age. Who would have thought, a simple trip to the good ol’ library?
There was this really cool atmosphere of research going on down there, I kept finding myself thinking, “Awwww look at my little learners!”
Dear Library,
I’m sorry; you’ve done good for my kids and I this week. I plan to take them down to visit you a little more this year; I don’t mind that you’re not all digital, and I love your nerdy atmosphere. So for all the years neglected you, I hope we’ve no hard feelings.
Sincerely,
ahappyteacher
3 replies on “an apology long overdue”
Irony: just last week I was driving through campus and looked at the library and students walking in.. I thought, “What are they DOING in there these days?” … I’m glad you’re reminding your students there is WORTH in actual pages/print. 🙂
Well from an oldies point of view, I remember the smell of the old wood and stacks upon rows of books in Bomberger Hall at Ursinus. I used to go there on rainy days and hide in the stacks with my books. I sat on the floor or found a hidden table and wallowed in the quiet escape from dorm life. Sometimes when I was homesick and all my friends had gone somewhere, I went to the library because it was ok to be alone there. Now I go for kids books mostly because there still is nothing like holding a picture book with a kid in your lap. And sometimes I get novels because I don’t have a kindle yet:)
yay!! We can’t forget the libraries 🙂