January 03, 2006
When we say "Shush!" we mean it!
I have only one question about the following story:
The West Bloomfield Township Public Library is getting double the complaints it normally receives concerning disruptive children, and now officials want to send a message that the problem won't be tolerated.The Library Board in December decided to revise the library's long-standing rules of conduct to prohibit inappropriate behavior by children. The revisions include rules on running, gathering socially in a disruptive manner and refusing to follow a staff member's direction or request, said Library Director Clara Bohrer.
"We have found that oftentimes children ages 11 to 15 -- those who are unable to drive -- are being dropped off for many, many hours, and at that age it's really hard for them to be on their best behavior all the time," she said...
Officials typically fielded 10 to 12 complaints per week, mostly after school and in the evenings. But those numbers doubled recently with complaints about children yelling across the room and running around. After warnings have been issued, students can have their library privileges suspended or be evicted.
And that question is: Why didn't the previous rules forbid things like running and ignoring staff requests? Did they not think these things would happen?
Well, perhaps they didn't. Maybe the previous rules were written during a time when children were either more supervised or more likely to follow general etiquette when out in public.
Best sign ever on the related Fark.com thread:
