School Libraries a Basic Need
The recent financial problems of the Simi Valley Unified School District have exposed one of the weakest links in our educational system, particularly here in California: school libraries.
We hear of one horror story after another about the educational inadequacies of our population. Most experts seem to agree that an emphasis on reading is needed. Yet school libraries, an obvious reading resource, continue to exist (or sometimes not exist) on inadequate funding for both books and personnel.
Now the Simi Valley district proposes severe cutbacks for school libraries. The cry “back to basics” is often heard. What could be more basic that books for the students to read?
ALAN LANGVILLE
Moorpark
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