Progressive or foolish?

[Peikko 1,575]

Arnold Schwarzenegger to scrap school textbooks in favour of ebooks

Governor of California seeks to cut budget deficit by replacing 'outdated' textbooks with electronic reading devices

In the first Terminator movie he tried to extinguish all human life. Now, as governor of California, Arnold Schwarzenegger wants to make textbooks history in favour of digital formats.

Schwarzenegger, trying to plug a budget hole of $24.3bn (£15bn), thinks he can make savings by getting rid of what he decries as expensive textbooks. The governor is serious about an idea that might make Gutenberg turn in his grave. He appeared in class yesterday to push an idea he set out in the San Jose Mercury News newspaper.

"It's nonsensical and expensive to look to traditional hard-bound books when information today is so readily available in electronic form," Schwarzenegger wrote. "Especially now, when our school districts are strapped for cash and our state budget deficit is forcing further cuts to classrooms, we must do everything we can to untie educators' hands and free up dollars so that schools can do more with fewer resources."

Schwarzenegger points out that California last year set aside $350m for school books and argues that even if teachers have to print out some of the material, it will be far cheaper than regularly buying updated textbooks.

Schwarzenegger plans to launch the scheme in August next year when California's high-school pupils will have access to online maths and science texts. They would also use a digital textbook such as Sony reader, which can hold the same information as up to 160 books.

Ebook readers are gaining in popularity. Yesterday, Apple presented an upcoming application for its iPhone, that allows users to buy books, including textbooks, on their phones and also copy and email large chunks.

"Basically kids are feeling as comfortable with their electronic devices as I was with my pencils and crayons. Textbooks are outdated, in my opinion," Schwarzenegger told pupils."For so many years, we've been trying to teach the kids exactly the same way."

Holding up four large books he joked: "I can use these for the curls," in a nod to his bodybuilding days before he became one of Hollywood's biggest stars.

But some teachers wonder whether Schwarzenegger's idea of getting rid of textbooks might end up costing more not less, with digital textbooks going for $300.

Kristina Fierro, a high school teacher in Bakersfield, said it would be expensive to get the materials, train the teachers and train the students to use the materials properly. She was also worried about the students once they are out of the classroom.

"I would say out of a class of 30, maybe 10 or less ... have a computer at home. The governor hasn't given many details about the programme, but so far the digital addition isn't looking like a subtraction for California's budget," she told KGET, a local TV station.

In an effort to cut the state budget deficit, Schwarzenegger has signed an executive order to scrap funding on contracts from 1 March, and bar state agencies from entering into new ones. Between 2005 and 2008, the state of California signed an average of 65,000 contracts a year, which ranged from peanut butter for prison inmates to consultants for computer system upgrades. This year the number stands at about 36,000.

Schwarzenegger said: "Every state agency and department will scrutinise how every penny is spent on contracts to make sure the state is getting the best deal for every taxpayer dollar."

Link

Edited June 9, 2009 by Madame Cleo

[Peikko 1,575]

I can't believe only a 1/3 of children have access to a computer at home. That seems highly unlikely but...

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

"I would say out of a class of 30, maybe 10 or less ... have a computer at home.

I'm a techie. I love the idea. All my work manuals are digital, I threw out all the heavy books years ago.

That said.... not having computers at home is a real problem. Maybe even a deal breaker.

[mawilson 2,133]

Why do you think it's foolish? Sounds like a good idea to me.

Perhaps not so for the publishing industry.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

I can't believe only a 1/3 of children have access to a computer at home. That seems highly unlikely but...

Of course you'd think so. You're a rich girl.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Well Dell has a new program offering ultra cheap laptops for schools - and netbooks are dead cheap (esp at the retail end). I imagine they'd give parents some sort of voucher to purchase one at a steep discount.

[Chica Yeyé 41]

"I would say out of a class of 30, maybe 10 or less ... have a computer at home.

I'm a techie. I love the idea. All my work manuals are digital, I threw out all the heavy books years ago.

That said.... not having computers at home is a real problem. Maybe even a deal breaker.

I'm a bookworm, I do not like the idea. So there.

[mawilson 2,133]

I can't believe only a 1/3 of children have access to a computer at home. That seems highly unlikely but...

Make it a requirement.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Why do you think it's foolish? Sounds like a good idea to me.

Perhaps not so for the publishing industry.

Books are heading that way anyway - esp in education.

Went to the BEA book fair the other week - there's actually a machine now that will print and bind a book for your on the spot. Really neat - can also be used to print customised textbooks.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

"I would say out of a class of 30, maybe 10 or less ... have a computer at home.

I'm a techie. I love the idea. All my work manuals are digital, I threw out all the heavy books years ago.

That said.... not having computers at home is a real problem. Maybe even a deal breaker.

I'm a bookworm, I do not like the idea. So there.

Get with the times, old lady.

[Peikko 1,575]

I like books, but I do agree that it's probably a good idea to put text books into digital format.

I didn't say I had a view one way or another Mawilson - I was just posing a question

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

I can't believe only a 1/3 of children have access to a computer at home. That seems highly unlikely but...

Make it a requirement.

That's another cost to government. You can't make people buy computers unless you're willing to help them with the cost.

[Peikko 1,575]

Libraries have computers. You don't need to own one, but that said, it's not exactly an expensive option to give vouchers for a cheap one to those who haven't yet got one. It's a win win really because kids need to have access to this technology at an early age to compete in the digital age

[mawilson 2,133]

I can't believe only a 1/3 of children have access to a computer at home. That seems highly unlikely but...

Make it a requirement.

That's another cost to government. You can't make people buy computers unless you're willing to help them with the cost.

They don't need a computer - an electronic reader-type thing (e.g. Amazon Kindle) will do just fine and still be cheaper than textbooks.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Libraries have computers. You don't need to own one, but that said, it's not exactly an expensive option to give vouchers for a cheap one to those who haven't yet got one. It's a win win really because kids need to have access to this technology at an early age to compete in the digital age

My town has two libraries, one on each side. One library is gonna shut down next week due to budgetary concerns. The remaining library doesn't have equipment or staff to cater to the whole town, it is packed as is.

And vouchers cost money. A lot of those vouchers would go to illegals. You don't want justashooter showing up here, do you?