News & Politics - Schwarzenegger Urges Schools To Ditch Books

**vc318** · 06-09-2009, 05:09 PM

News from WENN

Actor-turned-politician Arnold Schwarzenegger wants schoolchildren in California to swap heavy textbooks for digital literature in a bid to save money.

The California Governor insists schools are outdated and teachers should use advances in technology to save millions of dollars in state funding.

From the beginning of the next U.S. school year in August, online maths and science books will be available across California's high schools.

And the Terminator star wants to make the most of today's technologically-minded youths by slowly phasing out traditional textbooks altogether.

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 Textbooks are outdated, in my opinion.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

"Our kids get their information from the internet, downloaded onto their iPods, and in Twitter feeds to their cell phones. So why are California's school students still forced to lug around antiquated, heavy, expensive textbooks?

And this is why children don't have to make any effort anymore to read or write - everything will be spelled out to them on the computer! And any wonder why our kids are overweight? Because they're on the darn Internet or video game system for 20 hours a day. I swear I don't know what Arnold is thinking but don't scrimp on the education of our children. Some take great pleasure in reading from a book. I'm sure he could find some other effective ways to cut spending.

**sunnykerr** · 06-09-2009, 07:36 PM

Yes, because purchasing the hardware to support digital literature won't be at all expensive...

Moron!

mh67511 · 06-09-2009, 08:26 PM

I don't think he wants every kid to get a Kindle, rather they can read the textbooks on the computer. Most kids these days have access to a computer with the internet. They could always print out the reading if they prefer it that way or possibly view it on their cell phone if they want it to be portable. I think it's a great idea, plus the kids won't have to lug a 50 pound backpack home each day. Those textbooks are almost always at least 5 years old as it is, maybe this way they can update the textbooks more frequently. California has got to cut costs everywhere they can.

I always appreciated when my college textbooks had a digital copy or the text available online. It's convenient at times.

mh67511 · 06-09-2009, 08:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vc318 (View Post)

Some take great pleasure in reading from a book.

A book is one thing. A textbook is another. I don't know anyone who takes pleasure in reading those long-winded chapters. If they want pleasure, go to the library!

**vc318** · 06-09-2009, 08:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mh67511 (View Post)

I think it's a great idea, plus the kids won't have to lug a 50 pound backpack home each day.

I'm sorry but the weight of the book, textbook or whatever isn't the issue here and that's not what Arnold is talking about. Apparently he thinks that these books cost too much to print and so forth. First off, not every child can afford to have a computer in their home one alone that can access the Internet. As a teacher, I can tell you how many of my kids salivated over using the computers from school because they don't have one of their own. Apparently the governor must think that majority of our children come from wealthy homes and that parents can pay out of pocket expenses for these sort of things. And something like the Kindle (which goes for $360) would be the way to go unless something else comes around. I'm sorry but he's nuts. Kids can barely be trusted to bring pencil and paper in their bookbag and yet he wants them lugging around equipment worth $400 5 days a week? Kids are struggling with real issues these days - not this frivolous stuff.

**wanderer78** · 06-10-2009, 09:53 PM

Caroline, you offer a lot of insight on the issue. Thanks for your input.

The idea doesn't seem practical to me. How will it be cheaper?

Miss Kelsey Rose · 06-11-2009, 07:21 AM

Wow... while this idea would really be wonderful. I definitely agree with everyone opposing.

Personally, I already have back issues from the weight of my backpack, but that's just something to deal with. Before all the budget cuts, my school had a classroom set of books where we could keep our books at home for use and have a set to use in the classroom, as well. We can't afford to do that anymore, unfortunately.

I think it is worrisome that kids have such heavy backpacks, though. I've been injured several times because of the weight myself. I know it's necessary, but I still wish the schools had enough funding for a classroom set again.

I realize that's wishful thinking.

**vc318** · 06-11-2009, 08:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Miss Kelsey Rose (View Post)

I think it is worrisome that kids have such heavy backpacks, though. I've been injured several times because of the weight myself. I know it's necessary, but I still wish the schools had enough funding for a classroom set again.

I realize that's wishful thinking.

But replacing a $10 bookbag is much easier than replacing digital equipment that a child would easily damage.

Also, doesn't the governor think that a child is more likely to get robbed walking home from school carrying these sort of things around? When things are better maybe this might be worth looking into but right now, I just think it's a horrible and inefficient idea to solving the economic crisis in California.

Miss Kelsey Rose · 06-11-2009, 09:52 AM

Oh, I definitely agree with you. All I was saying was that I wish he would invest in buying classroom sets to ease the physical stress on kids carrying all those books around.

**TheAngel** · 06-11-2009, 01:30 PM

See, I never injured myself carrying heavy backpacks, and I've been doing that for 18 years. I always wonder if it's how kids carry their bookbags, slung over one shoulder or low on their back so it puts pressure in strange places. Don't blame it on the books. I backpack and carry 30+ lbs on my back regularly and because I carry my backpack properly, it isn't a problem.

I'd hate having books on computers. In college, I'd print everything out because I get really bad eye fatigue from staring at a computer screen even with my contacts in. It's something about the glare. Also, you can't just put the textbooks online and be done with it, you need to be able to create a program that will also allow digital highlighting and bookmarking and allow students to make notes in the margin of the digital copy, since I did all of these things during college. Because I'm an active reader, if I wasn't able to do that my grades would certainly have suffered.

T-Dubb · 06-11-2009, 02:28 PM

this is a tough sitch, i'd say just have a set in the classroom for the kids to use, but in terms of homework that would make it tough, i think they could figure something out though where they only have a set in the classroom

Miss Kelsey Rose · 06-11-2009, 02:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheAngel (View Post)

See, I never injured myself carrying heavy backpacks, and I've been doing that for 18 years. I always wonder if it's how kids carry their bookbags, slung over one shoulder or low on their back so it puts pressure in strange places. Don't blame it on the books. I backpack and carry 30+ lbs on my back regularly and because I carry my backpack properly, it isn't a problem

Kids do wear them appropriately, and some of them still have back pain. I've been carrying heavy backpacks for 17 years myself, and regardless -- it always hurts. It's lasting pain from the books themselves that has worsened and now, regardless of how my backpack is worn, it hurts the same.

Some kids have that as their problem. So, I believe that it is the books' problem. Doctors have been saying it for years. Sometimes a readjustment of the straps doesn't do anything. Sometimes the backpacks are just too heavy.

**vc318** · 06-11-2009, 06:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheAngel (View Post)

I'd hate having books on computers. In college, I'd print everything out because I get really bad eye fatigue from staring at a computer screen even with my contacts in. It's something about the glare. Also, you can't just put the textbooks online and be done with it, you need to be able to create a program that will also allow digital highlighting and bookmarking and allow students to make notes in the margin of the digital copy, since I did all of these things during college. Because I'm an active reader, if I wasn't able to do that my grades would certainly have suffered.

That's true - if this passed, I think the number of children needing glasses would definitely go up.

I wonder what Arnold's suggestion would be to the number of children who would need to see the ophthalmologist after all this.

Quote:

Some kids have that as their problem. So, I believe that it is the books' problem. Doctors have been saying it for years. Sometimes a readjustment of the straps doesn't do anything. Sometimes the backpacks are just too heavy.

That has been an issue but they've made those rolling bookbags now. Maybe those backpacks with the straps should be done away with.

**sunnykerr** · 06-11-2009, 08:32 PM

It's not just glasses. Take it from someone who has a bad case of near-sightedness, there comes a point where too much computer time can also factor in retinas detaching themselves (sorry if that sounds hoky, I'm having trouble thinking of the proper English terms right now).

There's also increases in headaches of all kinds, bad posture, various ergonomy issues with the repeated placements of arms and legs at certain angles.

I also work in an office, so I may be hyper-aware about all this stuff.

The gist of it is, computers can be awesome tools, but they can't replace books. If you want to save money and save the kids from lugging textbooks around, I'd go with the suggestion mentioned already of simply getting textbooks for school use only and having textbooks that stay at home. It's gotta be less expensive than computers AND this way the kids don't have to lug anything around.

Besides, haven't there been studies somewhere that more or less proved that people don't retain what they read off a screen nearly as much as they retain material read off a page? I could swear I heard that somewhere.

Either way, it's certainly true about me.

Besides, the highlighter business would collapse.

**TheAngel** · 06-11-2009, 10:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vc318 (View Post)

That's true - if this passed, I think the number of children needing glasses would definitely go up.

I wonder what Arnold's suggestion would be to the number of children who would need to see the ophthalmologist after all this.

That has been an issue but they've made those rolling bookbags now. Maybe those backpacks with the straps should be done away with.

And that would also annoy me. I like my straps. I'd like to keep them.

And yeah, I'm with Sunny, I don't retain as much information that I read off the computer, I suppose because I've been conditioned with the computer being a fairly passive form of entertainment as opposed to an active form of education.