Push to save teacher-librarians as student reading levels decline
A children's author launches a petition to mandate a role for teacher-librarians in Australian schools as educators phase them out despite ongoing declines in the country's student reading performance.
A nationwide petition advocating for the preservation of teacher-librarian positions in schools is gaining traction, as reported reading levels among students continue to decline. This petition, which has amassed over 13,000 signatures in just a week, aims to prevent the elimination of these crucial roles. The initiative was sparked by news that teacher-librarians at 58 schools in the Newcastle-Maitland Catholic diocese faced redundancy or reassignment.
Children's author Kate Temple, who penned the Bin Chicken series, initiated the petition in response to the layoffs, highlighting the vital role these professionals play in nurturing a reading culture within schools. They provide education beyond traditional reading, encompassing digital and media literacy. Temple emphasized their ability to foster a love for reading among students, including those with reading difficulties or neurodivergent conditions.
Notable authors, including Matt Cosgrove, Andy Griffiths, and Terry Denton, have also lent their support to the Students Need School Libraries movement. The Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) report, released by the OECD, revealed a two-point decrease in Australia's mean reading performance from 2022 to 2025, with a notable two-point drop in the proportion of students reaching the National Proficient Standard.
Additionally, the percentage of low-performing students in Australia surged by two points within the same timeframe.
Despite Australia's reading performance being slightly above the OECD average, it lags behind nations such as New Zealand, Ireland, and Japan. The Australian Reads, a national body for reading, reported that one in three Australian children struggles with proficient reading, and 29% of teenagers avoid reading for enjoyment. The decline is attributed to factors such as the absence of reading role models, digital media's impact on attention spans, and limited access to books.
School Library Association of SA president Hajnalka Molloy stressed the indispensability of teacher-librarians in fostering a conducive reading environment. Prior to 2011, teacher-librarian positions were consistently funded in South Australia, but the funding model shifted to a student-centered approach, leading to budgetary challenges.
Molloy argued that these professionals are instrumental in imparting critical skills like critical thinking about AI results and navigating credible sources, which are increasingly important in an era of digital learning.
Written by urgent.news from ABC News AU's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
