updates from the library

Here are the Library Highlights from the Autumn Term from our school librarian, Mr Cadney.

It has been a very busy end to the Autumn Term in the Library. We have just completed a really successful Scholastic Book Fair, raising over £300 in book sales which has exceeded our targets and expectations!

Many thanks to all staff and students who have supported the event.

STUDENT LIBRARIANS

A huge thank you this term for our wonderful student librarians - but we are looking for some new recruits!

I am looking for at least 4 responsible boys from each class who can on a rota basis throughout the year help with book issuing and other duties during library lessons.

This is an important role, both to improve the efficiency of the library, and to learn more about Reading Cloud, the library management system that we use at Lordswood.

Please let Mr Cadney know in January if you would like to sign up!

YEAR 9 LIBRARY LESSONS

From late November, we have been class-reading I Am Malala, the autobiography of Malala Yousafzai with Year 9s. Malala is a high-profile champion of women’s rights to equal education, known worldwide having been shot by the Taliban in her native Pakistan as a secondary-age student in 2012 . The book has local interest as well as Malala was treated after her life-threatening injuries in a Birmingham hospital, and subsequently relocated her whole family to live in the city. Year 9 have been enjoying the early chapters which focus on events immediately prior to the shooting, plus her early family life and the historical background to the wider conflict in Pakistan and Afghanistan.

We look forward to reading more about Malala’s incredible life story in the coming weeks.

CLASS DEBATES

The Day continues to be an excellent resource across all library lessons. Well done in particular to Year 7 classes, who have started these debates since November and are debating various topics with great maturity. Here is a summary of some of the views expressed:

Kaeo and Zakariya - On whether animal testing should be banned:

“I think animal testing should be banned. Dropping it by 1.2 per cent next year doesn’t make much of a difference. Even though they do animal testing to keep us safe and stop us from dying it is not good, it’s cruelty. In China they have developed human-like robots and technology that almost replicates the human being, so they should test medicines and products on them instead.”

“I think we should not use animal testing because there are lots of people who love animals and using these testings we could kill them. A solution would be to use technology to test things.”

Tifare, Ashae, Haaris – On whether it was wrong to shut schools during COVID:

“We were right to be locked down and schools closed because there would’ve been more casualties, and by losing contact with each other we were preventing disease.”

“I think it was just an excuse. Scientists have warned about a potential pandemic for years.”

“Schools should NOT have been shut down. I missed a whole year of school, I barely learnt anything, and once the lockdown ended, Year 2 was so hard trying to catch up. I didn’t even know how to tell the time!”

“I’m personally stuck between both opinions. From my perspective, children fell behind as being taught in person is better. With Zoom, kids wouldn’t listen to the teacher. But I can see why schools were shut down, keeping them open would highly increase the chance of spreading.”

Youzarif and Yuvraj – On whether Artificial Intelligence is a good or bad thing?

“AI is good for helping and explaining how to do homework instead of just giving you the answer. If you have no one to talk to then its useful to help and increase your knowledge.”

“AI has badly affected the world as half of the population use it too much for school work, emails and many other things. I think AI is bad for kids and adults because it can be misused, for example framing people when they haven’t done anything wrong.”

Ammar, Kevin, Victory and Manveer (9.4) on the dangers of advertising gambling to teenagers

“I think gambling isn’t a good thing because it will lead teenagers into very bad habits at an early age.”

“Gambling is just a way to gain profit for the people who are in charge because it only needs one try and you’re trapped like a fly in a venus fly trap. It is a devil in disguise, it is not about winning or losing, it is about destroying your identity”.

“Advertising gambling should be banned because young people nowadays are on social media all the time, so showing gambling ads will influence little kids to start gambling.”

“In my opinion advertising on gambling could be allowed to an extent. Maybe they could advertise only in places like rural areas or alongside quieter roads.”

Some of my favourite articles this term have been on diverse topics such as:

- should animal testing be banned?

- is artificial intelligence positive or negative?

- is the 6-7 craze part of a history of humour?

- does adolescence actually last until you are 32?

- are digital ID cards a good idea?

- should the use of mobile phones in schools be banned?

- what is better; going to university or getting paid employment?

- should we be more food literate?

- should all billionaires wealth should be capped?

These and many others have led to some lively and respectful class debates, and well-articulated views using the worksheets.

Thanks for reading! Don’t forget to keep reading as much as you can over the Christmas Break!