Comments on: Who needs textbooks, anyway?

By: anonymous

anonymous — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 22:52:34 +0000

Libraries only allow you to use thier computers for 30 minutes per day. Some students parents do not allow them to walk, commute to the library after school. Schools do not have enough resources as it is. Paper is donated and to have to print the needed pages is going to be a problem for many students. This is a good idea but, the kinks will need to be worked out.

By: Julie

Julie — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 01:01:10 +0000

One BIG suggestion is to get rid of the rules that force schools to buy new textbooks every 5-7 years. This next year, every Oakland elementary student will get a brand new textbook (about $30 each) and each teacher will get a new teacher edition ($500 each). This, when most teachers were relatively happy with the Harcourt math books and had learned to address any problems with the program. The fact is that the textbook publishers lobbied hard for this rule and many people in OUSD Instructional Services have well-paying jobs that rely on this rule. When we are cutting back on feeding our students and getting rid of school buses, new textbooks should be put on the back burner!

By: Catherine

Catherine — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 21:16:03 +0000

Think about it – this may eliminate those assigments teachers give “just because” and make everyone think about whether the homework assignments are really needed or whether the students have shown proficiency / advanced scores already.

In Oakland our public libraries, with computer and wireless internet access are available 6 days per week until 5:00 and until 8:00 two evenings per week.

I agree that we need more solutions to the budget, but I do not hear anyone on this list making suggestions on how to cut costs in and around each school – we have only talked about cost-cutting in administration and contractors (of which I agree). I do not see homeowners willing to pop for another $600 per parcel, businesses willing to sponsor a school, no public officials making over $100,000 per year to give the excess to the schools they represent. We have run out of money. There is no more money. All of us are responsible for making creative changes.

By: cranky teacher

cranky teacher — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 21:06:02 +0000

I would get rid of textbooks for a different reason: They are a pedagogical nightmare, the backbone of the “banking” strategy which has been such a disaster in public education for a century.

By: Mike Katz-Lacabe

Mike Katz-Lacabe — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 03:18:26 +0000

This(!!) was the Governor’s grand idea for “saving” millions of dollars in his speech on June 2. Schools can save money by getting rid of textbooks, but that savings will pale next to the amount schools will need to spend on ensuring that students have some way to read the digital textbooks.

I think that reasonably-priced devices for reading digital textbooks will eventually replace paper books, but not yet.

By: Julie

Julie — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 23:27:54 +0000

I assume that he is talking about high school textbooks but, even so… the governor apparently thinks that every student has access to a working computer at school and at home. What planet is he living on?

By: kindergartenkop

kindergartenkop — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 23:14:26 +0000

He’s on to something:_Connecticut District Tosses Algebra Textbooks and Goes Online_
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/08/education/08math.html?_r=1&src=linkedin