As students prepare for their academic future, it is important that they have the right resources available at all times.  In and outside of the classroom, students are always using textbooks, whether it be for homework or for studying for a test.  However, it can be frustrating when one does not have the physical book in one’s hands, and instead, one is struggling to answer questions off of an e-book online, which just does not seem to cooperate, no matter what one does.

In my opinion, students should use a physical reliable textbook, instead of using an e-book that can malfunction.  Textbooks allow for easy access, without having to connect to, or use WiFi and data, guarantee reliability, and will not cause any frustrations or worry of the physical textbook to malfunction, as an e-book can do.  From a logistics standpoint, an e-book needs WiFi or the use of data to work, does not guarantee full reliability, and is likely to malfunction at some point. Furthermore, from a student’s learning perspective, and according to Scholastic Books, as of 2014, 55% of kids, with ages ranging from 14 years to 17, prefer a textbook. That is a little more than half of the high school population, preferring to utilize a physical textbook, rather than an e-book, to aid in their learning experience throughout high school.

High school can produce some wonderful memories for students.  However, high school can also make for much stress for kids.  Nothing could be worse than having to meet an assignment deadline, but not being able to do so because one is unable to, due to one’s e-book not functioning when turning it on or perhaps only being able to get partially through the material in the e-book, due to experiencing ‘technical difficulties.’  Teachers do not want to hear that an assignment was not able to be completed because an e-book malfunctioned.  Students do not want to receive a poor grade on an assignment or on a test because they were not able to do the reading or to study the material.

Technology is, and can be a wonderful thing.  However, technology should not interfere with a student’s learning.  Nor should it be imposed on a student’s learning, as a replacement for a physical textbook.  To conclude, it is time that our schools stop heading down the path of e-books, and start giving students, textbooks to allow for a better academic success, and less stress.