A JEWEL OF A BOOK—Larry Knapton prepares earth science books for distribution to Ventura County schools. Three gem and mineral societies—Ventura Gem and Mineral Society, Conejo Gem and Mineral Club and Oxnard Gem and Mineral Society—have launched a Books for Schools program. MITTY SCARPATO/Special to the Acorn Three Ventura County gem and mineral societies are launching their Books for Schools program by delivering a complimentary earth science book to each Ventura County public school. These books are being donated to the schools courtesy of funding made available by American Petroleum Institute, California Coastal Chapter.

The Books for Schools program began when club members, while volunteering for other education projects, noticed that the science books in public school libraries were few and outdated.

“There is a difference between hearing our schools are underfunded and seeing the physical evidence,” said Donna Knapton of the Tri-County Education committee. “These books are 10 years old, which is ancient in the terms of science. Our kids are being left behind.”

Weak public school libraries are not a new trend. California has consistently lagged behind the nation in per-pupil funding. Despite the research, California does not designate school library funding.

The focus on retaining teachers in the classroom has also resulted in fewer school librarians and, in some cases, schools without an operating library.

According to the California Department of Education, “California public schools with strong school library programs outperform those without such programs on the state’s Standardized Testing and Reporting tests. Strong school libraries help give our students the best chance to succeed.”

California plans to drastically cut back on school funding, but nonprofits can lend a hand.

“When we found out that public school libraries are key to a student’s overall academic success, we wanted to use our knowledge of earth science to help. We have squeezed pennies until they screamed to reach the goal of providing an earth science book for each Ventura County public school. We are now working on funding to provide an additional three earth science books to each public school,” said Knapton.

The Ventura County gem and mineral clubs are committed to working with funding partners to help Ventura County public schools.

The Tri-Club Education Committee is formed from the Community Outreach Program of the Ventura Gem and Mineral Society (www.vgms.org), Conejo Gem and Mineral Club (www.cgamc.org) and Oxnard Gem and Mineral Society (www.oxnardgem.com).

The clubs are nonprofit educational organizations affiliated regionally with the California Federation of Mineralogical Societies and nationally with the American Federation of Mineralogical Societies.