With the rise of digital resources, many teachers and students have given traditional textbooks the cold shoulder. Still, all M-A students pick up textbooks at the start of the year, even for classes that never use them.
M-A’s textbook requirement stems from a state law that requires all students to have equal, readily available access to educational resources that are in adequate condition. But some students aren’t sure there is a place for these once essential materials in today’s classrooms.
Though the state mandate aims to ensure students have equal access to educational materials, many feel the rule is just a burden. “It’s fair, but at the same time, if we’re not going to use them, I don’t think we should be required to pick them up,” senior Angel Gomez said.
Sophomore Felix Crim sees the value in the law but believes it is unnecessary for the district. “It is important because, especially in lower-funded areas, students really need resources. It doesn’t really apply to our district because most things are available online,” he said. M-A students are all guaranteed Chromebooks to access online textbooks.
“There’s got to be some value from it, but I’ve never had an instance where I’ve actually had to use a textbook,” Gomez said. “There’ll be times where some teachers say, ‘We might use a textbook later in the year,’ but we never do. They sometimes say ‘refer to the textbook,’ but no one actually does that.”
Sophomore Sasha Zykova agreed. “I don’t think there’s really a point in using it unless you’re consistently missing class. It’s situational,” she said.
Although many students find textbooks irrelevant, others appreciate their digital version.
The read-aloud feature of the AP World History online book is helpful for sophomore Taruni Tiruchinapally. “I like listening to it like a podcast while multitasking to save time,” she said. “But I still think hearing my teacher explain things in class is way more helpful.”
Freshman Zach Egnal doesn’t even bother with books. “I got rid of them on the day that I got them. We already have Chromebooks, and I don’t want to have to carry them around,” he said.
“Textbooks are bulky, large, and kind of a pain. Why would I physically find the pages when I could just have it on my computer?” Crim asked.
Here’s a look at textbook use in different subjects.
Math
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Following student feedback, math teacher Carlos Martinez shifted his teaching style for his Geometry Enriched classes to incorporate the textbook. “I’m trying to make it more regular to actually read the sections,” he said.
Martinez’s Algebra I class relies on guided note packets, so textbooks are a less primary tool. “For students who don’t understand a section, I encourage them to read it in the book,” he said.
“Sometimes students don’t realize that there’s a physical textbook, and I have to almost teach them about how to use it, like, ‘this is what the table of contents looks like,’” Martinez said.
Tomiko Fronk, who teaches Precalculus and AP Computer Science Principles, views textbooks as a supplement rather than a fundamental source. “The textbook is only really used for those who need extra help or practice,” she said.
Social Studies
Social Studies
World and U.S. History teacher Kelsey Takahashi creates online handouts based on the textbook to reduce hassle and ensure the material in her lessons correlates to the book. “It’s a good dominant narrative. It is important to add a counter narrative or go deeper with what information is presented,” she said.
AP World History teacher Candace Bolles, on the other hand, requires weekly textbook reading. “I can’t cover every single event in history, so the book fills in the gaps,” Bolles said.
Science
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In his AP Environmental Science class, Lance Powell uses an independent study format focused on the textbook. “I think that students getting practice reading expository texts is a really good skill for them to have that they can carry into college. If we’re not doing it here, it’s a bit of a disservice,” he said.
In his Chemistry classes, Powell usually ignores the textbook in favor of labs that spark student curiosity. “One of the ways to turn people off of science is to throw a textbook at them,” he said. “But at the same time, it’s nice to have resources.”
Biology teacher Lauren Leysna prefers more dynamic resources. “If I use articles and different sources, I can adjust the reading level to suit different students’ needs. In a textbook, there’s only one reading level,” she said.
World Language
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Spanish teacher Maribel Maldonado adapts the Spanish II book to fit her teaching style. “I change its lessons so it works with the strategies I want students to practice,” she said.
Spanish II teacher Michael Mueller doesn’t use textbooks at all. “We like to keep the class more lively and in the moment,” he said. “I would also like to see us stop spending money on textbooks and killing so many trees.”
