Do you remember books? The primitive versions of the DVD?
Well, unlike most people, students do not perceive books as dinosaurs. It is hard to argue the fact that they are the source of tried-and-tested information, vital for studying. Yet, for some reason they have not been made available for every student. Instead, students and their parents have to sacrifice the things they would like to do or have for the sake of being able to buy textbooks. In accord with a research conducted by the Southern Education Foundation, approximately 51% of students in the USA come from low-income families, the percentage reaching number 71 in some states. (southerneducation.org). It means that most families are struggling to provide their children with good education. Meanwhile, education in the USA is known to be the most expensive in the world with very high fees, which, unfortunately, do not include textbooks provision.
Some might argue that the books colleges purchase quickly become outdated and the textbooks supply has to be renewed over and over again. Therefore, the old textbooks cannot be used again. Personally, I think this is not a sufficient argument since it is not students’ choice to change the curriculum. Education is not fashion which changes every season. There should be textbooks tested with time. By “time” I mean more than a year or two, which is the period in which textbooks are currently replaced. As I see it, education is turning (or has turned!) into a big business with all the loans and new textbooks. Publishing companies boost book prices, while college professors make their choice and, consequently, students have no way out but to buy the textbooks. Can you imagine that since 1978 prices have increased by 812%? (americablog.com).
The solution to the problem can be rather simple. E-book readers! The digital age has brought us the benefit of not having to carry around heavy textbooks. Instead, one can keep thousands of them on a device, small enough to fit into a pocket. Isn’t it amazing? Besides, with the e-ink technology one doesn’t have to worry about potential harm to eyesight. Reading an e-book is basically the same as reading a paper book. The question has to be settled with publishing companies, which will be required to issue both the paper and electronic version of the textbooks. Given that it will be much cheaper to purchase electronic versions, colleges might negotiate financing with the government. So taking into consideration that the cost of an electronic book reader ranges from $79 to $200, while an average student spends about $655 a year on textbooks, the benefit of this solution is obvious. (americanblog.com).
Just imagine not having to drag a pile of books around, just a couple of copybooks and an e-book reader. For parents it means not worrying about the negative impact on their child’s spine. For students it means more freedom of movement and eliminating the possibility of leaving a textbook at home! Personally, I see this idea to be really suitable for the hi-tech world we all live in. Sooner or later, e-books will totally replace paper books. So why not start right now? Why not start with the education system, the area where books are essential and, therefore, the area most subject to change?
So, maybe in some years, almost all people will reply “no” to the question set at the beginning of my speech. Maybe books will become dinosaurs. But as long as it brings benefit to all of us, why not?
Sources used:
americablog.com/2015/06/college-textbooks-expensive-no-good-reason.html
southerneducation.org/getattachment/4ac62e27-5260-47a5-9d02-14896ec3a531/A-New-Majority-2015-Update-Low-Income-Students-Now.aspx
