Books, from Shakespeare to physics, have hit the dumpsters outside Carl Schurz High School on Chicago's Northwest Side, a sight that has become a repeated scene across various Chicago Public Schools in recent years. CBS News Chicago reported the find on Friday, which included a variety of texts like "Of Beetles and Angels: A Boy's Remarkable Journey from a Refugee Camp to Harvard" by Mawi Asgedom, and the mounds of castaway paperbacks and textbooks that elicited concerns over wastage and the school's book disposal methods.
The act of weeding out old and supposedly outdated books has drawn criticism, particularly since Chicago Public Schools didn't explain why the books couldn't be donated or recycled. A spokesperson for the district clarified to Crain’s that this is district policy, stating all books were older editions and that weeding is a common procedure to maintain a relevant collection for the schools.
This instance of "weeding" comes during a period when school libraries nationwide are grappling with funding shortages for new materials. According to a survey highlighted by Crain’s, in the 2020-21 school year, 15% of school librarians reported having no access to funding for new purchases, highlighting a stark disconnect between discarding resources and the need for them.
Past occurrences of book discarding across Chicago's high schools, including Lake View, Kelvyn Park, and Foreman High School, punctuate an ongoing concern about the treatment of educational resources. Lake View's 2022 incident included notable works such as "Fences" by August Wilson, raising questions about exactly what constitutes "outdated" in the literature realm. Furthermore, one parent found important documents with personal information in the Lake View dumpster, an oversight that could have breached privacy regulations.
While the individual titles and conditions of these books varied widely, the unceremonious end for these once-educational assets continues to cast a shadow over the district's pursuit of modern and relevant curricula, leaving some residents wondering about the possible missed opportunities for repurposing or donating to lesser-funded educational institutions or charitable organizations.
