Thursday, May 26, 2016

The Debt Collector


As it turns out, Olga didn't eat the dying pigeon in our garden. In case you were wondering. I think I know what happened to it, though -- for the last several mornings and evenings we've seen a young fox make a quick, silent circle through our yard. My guess is he found that tasty morsel hunkered down beneath the shrubbery.

I finished "A Life Discarded" by Alexander Masters, the book I was reading about the diaries found in the trash bin. The author does resolve the ethical issues involved in writing about someone else's personal diaries. I can't tell you how without giving away the ending -- the book unfolds as a series of revelations that lead to a surprising conclusion. I really enjoyed it. In fact I was right at the end yesterday when I kept getting interrupted at work (yes, I was reading at work, but as a library assistant I'm allowed!) and it was sweet torture to have to put the book down and deal with whatever student needed a computer charger at that moment.

I'm on my annual campaign to get library materials back before the end of the school year, which is zooming toward us pretty quickly. I have one girl who's had two books out -- "The Beautiful and Damned" by F. Scott Fitzgerald and "Will You Please Be Quiet, Please?" by Raymond Carver -- since before Christmas. They were due Jan. 6. She's been getting automated overdue notices by e-mail for about four months now, in addition to personal e-mails from me. I went to her classroom to talk to her twice. I wrote her parents. It's always the same old story: "Oh, I forgot, I'm so sorry, I'll bring them tomorrow." At this point I don't know what more I can do. Bill her family, I suppose.

And remember the girl with the wayward biology textbook? Well, she checked out a geography textbook last fall and lost it. So I'm trying to collect money for that as well. Again: Spoke to student, wrote to parents. Nothing yet. Stay tuned!

(Photo: St. John's Wood, last week.)

7 comments:

  1. The school should refuse to release her grades until all bills or requests for return of materials are satisfied. That is what is done at colleges.

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  2. You should seriously consider getting yourself a cat burglar's outfit and breaking into the homes of kids with long overdue library books. And what is wrong with the parents - ignoring school pleas? These communications take time to create and should not be necessary. Maybe the offenders should be taken out to the school yard and flogged.

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  3. Had a feeling your deceased pigeon thief was a fox. End of the school year- here we are. Owen's last day of kindergarten is tomorrow.

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  4. I like e's suggestion, although it only works - as stated - if the school will back you up. Have you tried asking WHY she is having trouble remembering? There might be a reason behind the reason, and if asked with that in mind, you may be able to find out. Or not :)

    I do feel better thinking that Olga is not still digesting that pigeon!

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  5. I like book recommendations. this sounds like a good one. I'll look for it. My favorite excuse for a library book is , "I can't find my book but it's not overdue!"

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  6. I can't imagine getting all those reminders and visits and notes to parents and they still don't bring back the books. I guess I'm too much of a "rules" follower. I simply would never keep a book past it's due date.
    I love seeing that sunshine in your photo today.

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