It's Important

I had one of those bedtime conversations last night with my eight year old that left me wondering who is actually raising who.  It went something like this:

Me: Ellie, I am sorry I was a little grumpy today. It had nothing to do with your sister and you, it was just all me.

Ellie: It’s ok mommy. But what was wrong?

Me: Well, I think I was just sad that summer was ending and I have to go back to work tomorrow. Since you don’t go back for another two weeks, I feel like I am missing your last two weeks of summer. So I don’t want to go back to work.

Ellie: But I thought you loved your job?

Me: I do love my job. But I love you and your sister more.

Ellie was quiet for a few minutes.

Ellie: Mommy? What is the best thing about your job?

It was my turn to be quiet for a few minutes.

Me: The best part of my job is that I make a difference.  I make sure that students and teachers have good books to read during the school year.  I get to help kids and teachers.  And I get to do it for an entire district, which means I help a lot of kids that don’t have access to books.

Ellie: Why don’t they have books?

Me: Well, sweetie, some families can’t afford to buy books.  And some mommies and daddies can’t take their kids to the library.  They have to work, or they don’t have cars, or they don’t feel comfortable going to libraries. There can be a lot of reasons.  

Ellie: That’s sad mommy.

Me: It is.  But that’s what makes my job so special. I get to help make the libraries really awesome for the kids. They get great books and kids learn that libraries have a lot for them. It is pretty important that kids feel good about libraries.

Ellie was once again quiet for a few minutes.

Ellie: Mommy, I know you are sad, but you have to go back to work tomorrow. It’s important.

And just like that, as tears were running down my face, my 8 year old reminded me why I come to work every day.

I came to work today. It is important.

It's a Lonely Line

Supplying today’s teachers with the tools they want and need is an ongoing race to keep one step ahead of them.  As teachers create more engaging lessons utilizing technology, they want and need more technology.  This is a good problem for a Library Media Specialist to have.  It means our resources, our technology, our expertise is always being pushed. Always expanding, changing, and evolving.

This week I realized we needed some extra pieces of fairly basic equipment that supports video creation.  As I was traveling between buildings on Wednesday, I stopped at a local mega technology store to purchase the items that were needed the next day.  

I couldn’t help but notice the disproportionate amount of males vs. females shopping in the store. The women that I did see shopping did not appear to be shopping as a part of their job.  This is an assumption on my part, but it was fairly clear that women with children in tow were not there shopping for work. Not to mention the only female employees where the cashiers up front; they were not the sales people working with the merchandise.

As I left the store a smile crept across my face.  I thought about the young ladies in the STEM program at Princeton High School.  I thought about the young ladies in the Digital Music class.  I thought about the young ladies in the Digital Art class, Digital Navigation, IB Film, … the list goes on and on.  

And just as important the teachers that have seamlessly integrated technology rich lessons into their core curriculums.  The Social Studies teacher using Google Classroom.  The Science teacher using iPads for students to create their own

content.  

As educators we need to continue to provide technology rich environments for all of our students.  And open the idea of technology careers to our young females.  Princeton looks different than it did 10 years ago.  And it will look different in another 10 years.  I hope that is reflected in technology fields.  I hope in 10 years I will run into a former student in line at the technology store, during the day as a part of her job.