California Moves Toward Online Textbooks

I agree with many of the sentiments here. From my perspective, I would prefer a physical book textbook to online, but I think not transitioning to online textbooks is myopic - it is the way of the future and we must start the transition somehow.

I agree that poorer families will be disadvantaged, and I also wonder how the ease of taking your books with you on a family trip (yes I studied during family outings) will workout if everything is electronic. I do think its possible and even cheaper to give each child an electronic "reader" that they can use to download their textbooks and take with them everywhere.

Lastly, I also agree with the many comments that our schools replace their textbooks much too frequently/unnecessarily. The way I see it, it should be up to the teacher to keep the lectures/real-world examples current but the fundamental equation/teaching shouldn't change very often. Isn't this what we pay the teachers to do: TEACH!? When I was in college some teachers would change textbooks every 2 years, and I got to buy both editions (because I transitioned in between school years in a multiple part course), and the differences were miniscule and certainly couldn't warrant the $120 I spent on a brand new text. Then I realized that some of these professors were merely pushing the textbooks written by some of their colleagues. Granted at the K-12 level, its not the same motive but there is definitely lots of money changing hands and I don't believe that publishers like McGraw Hills don't treat the people in the decision making position "very kindly" in order to ensure that they continue receiving orders for the latest editions of their books! (look up the lobbyist for your school districts, I guarantee you’ll find McGraw Hill (et al) in every single one – I think they are required to register)

I don’t agree with Schwarzenegger often but I do applaud him for offering forward thinking suggestions like this – even if at the moment most of us can only see the hurdles/difficulties of turning them into reality. We shouldn’t let this fear of the unknown prevent us from trying to move in a direction that we know is inevitable.

Lastly, lets stop blaming every economic ail on illegal immigration – get educated people – this isn’t the problem. First of all, it is a drop in the bucket. Secondly, they pay lots of money (sales tax, income tax, etc.) into the system that will never give them back those benefits accrued had they been US Citizens. Lastly, the biggest money sucking group for government is the middle class. Look it up for yourselves. Every subsidy (student loans), tax credit, mortgage deduction write off, etc. is a “welfare”, that is where our tax money goes and the biggest group receiving these benefits are the middle class. So next time we complain about why we need to cut off people at the fringes, lets think about who’s really using up all our governments money.

I guess I don't see why people are complaining, other than to just complain because they have nothing else to do. I think it sounds like a solid idea. A $250 netbook or $350 laptop computer that will last for at least five years, if not longer as there is no need to have the latest technology just for accessing the Internet and running a word processor or Acrobat Reader, for each student is a lot cheaper than a bunch of books. And just as it is the child's responsibility to safeguard his or her books, so it would be with the computer. You can't tell me that some parents can't afford that because I guarantee they can.

For Internet access, the schools should have free Wifi and they could expand the coverage to reach all of the students, so no need to have three modems as one person commented. This means that each student would have access, regardless of location, except of course for those that live way out in the sticks, in which case, it is the parent's responsibility to ensure that their child gets an education and if it means moving closer to town for the good of the child, then so be it.

What I don't understand is why people are complaining about this. I have yet to read a complaint that is based in any sound logic. One person commented about lack of concentration while reading due to chatting and blogging at the same time; well, don't be chatting and blogging when you're reading. Problem solved. Others complained about kids getting fat because they sit in front of the computer and thus, they will just get fatter. Well, sitting in front of the computer doing homework uses the same amount of energy as sitting at a desk doing homework; therefore, there is no difference between the two. Another complained that kids are becoming too technical. Really? Is that why China graduates more engineers than we do? And finally, the ever-present conspiracy theorists who believe that the government will go into the online books and change the information to suit "its" plan. Give me a break!

What it boils down to is the fact that people are afraid of change and change is what we need. Our student's are behind the student's of most other developed nation's in most all educational categories so obviously the old system isn't working. Something needs to change. It is shameful that a country that boasts one of the world's highest standards of living is so far behind in education.

The University of Phoenix has gone to all online textbooks. Most students ended up printing them out or picking up a used textbook somewhere else because trying to read entire books on your computer is a pain in the a**.

There are some misunderstandings out there I'd like to clear up. In CA, students don't have to purchase a new backpack full of textbooks every year in public schools. Schools have textbooks that are borrowed for the year and returned at the end of the year. New textbooks are made available about every 7 years in rotating subjects, but if they conform to the most recent requirements (made by politicians)- they don't have to be replaced.

As far as the idea of online content being cheaper--- you do the math.

Textbook: District purchases one for $100, and it gets used for minimum of 7 years by students of all socio-economic backgrounds. A book rips- tape fixes it. Shelf life of a book- 20 plus years if taken care of.

Online textbook: District buys license per student for cost savings- $50. District is forced to provide internet access in home of the students that cannot pay- say $20 per month. District is forced to provide hardware to use at home, say $300 on the cheap. District is forced to also provide service representatives to "maintain" and upgrade said hardware. A computer breaks, it is likely needing to be replaced or at minimum a service call. Shelf life of a computer: likely 3-5 years in best case scenario of daily use.

(Don't think a district can't be forced to provide all these things... it is law that ALL students have equal access to textbooks in the state of CA- just as it is law that all students have equal access to school facilities that are in good repair- and fully credentialed teachers as a part of Williams Lawsuit compliance.)