Letters

Correction: The February 2004 News article "The Best of the Best " (p. 24) inaccurately described the Michael L. Printz Award as a prize for outstanding fiction for young adults. It can also be awarded to works of nonfiction.

A literacy expert questions 'No Child Left Behind'

Before cozying up to No Child Left Behind (NCLB) (January 2004, "What's in Store for 2004," p. 13, "A Golden Opportunity ," pp. 40–42), I suggest that school librarians take a closer look at what some critics of NCLB are saying, especially concerning those aspects related to reading instruction. NCLB insists that all children follow a rigid, intensive phonics program that many respected scholars feel is not supported by the research. The policy also proclaims that recreational reading in school is unimportant and forces schools and districts to engage in inappropriate and excessive testing. I invite SLJ readers to look at both sides. To see what some of the critics are saying, start with books by Gerald Coles (Reading the Naked Truth: Literacy, Legislation and Lies), Frank Smith (Unspeakable Acts, Unnatural Processes), Elaine Garon (Resisting Reading Mandates), and Susan Ohanian (What Happened to Recess and Why are Our Children Struggling in Kindergarten?). I also suggest Susan Ohanian's Web site (www.susanohanian.org) and, of course, my own Web site (www.sdkrashen.com).

Stephen Krashen, Professor Emeritus of Education University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA

I read with dismay about the teen situation at the Joliet Library (January 2004, "Rowdy Teens Get Carded at Library ," p. 16). My feelings are based on two concerns. The first is that the quotes in the article were from members of ALSC (Association for Library Service to Children), a division of the American Library Association (ALA) that serves children's librarians. I wanted to let your readers know that there is an ALA division that specializes in services to teens—the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA).

My second concern questions whether there were other policy options available at Joliet. Could steps have been taken in the interim that would have avoided the decision to card teens? The action taken by the library administration and board violates the profession's principle of free and open access to all patrons. To develop a better action plan, the library could have contacted YALSA. The organization has a program called Serving the Underserved (www.ala.org/ala/yalsa/professsionaldev/yalsatrainers.htm), which involves teen librarians who train library staff in working with adolescents. YALSA has conducted more than 25,000 training sessions through the program. There are two Serving the Underserved trainers available in Illinois.

It is my hope that the Joliet Library has seen an improvement. I also hope that the action taken by the library will not become a policy trend.

Kevin Scanlon, YALSA Board Member, Teen Services Librarian, Canton (MI) Public Library, Canton, MI