John Franc: Save a librarian, save a school

Thanks to the Recorder for covering the recent student walkout of the entire student body (as reported) at Frontier Regional High, in opposition to the proposed and recommended cut of the school librarian.

As a boy I was fortunate that my town had librarians in grammar school, junior high, and high school. Not all public schools have librarians. I found that a school librarian was a special kind of coach, for the sport, and challenges of scholastic efforts.

The “sport” of scholastic effort and success requires skill development, tactics, and strategy, not unlike athletic sports. A school librarian’s coaching for scholastic success is an invaluable school resource.

The loss of a school librarian will have detrimental effects upon the student body while at Frontier, and likely later in the students’ studies and life / work efforts.

That Frontier has had school librarians, but now will cut that key position in students’ progress, is particularly wrong-headed.

I urge Frontier’s decision makers to reconsider the short sighted plan to remove the school’s librarian, and hope that students, parents, and residents continue in their opposition to this damaging scholastic staff cut.