The article “A Classroom Without Books Is Not Progress” by Robert C. Thornett discusses the decline in the use of physical textbooks in schools, despite the fact that books are more accessible than ever due to the Internet. Over his 20 years as a teacher, Thornett has seen many textbooks collect dust while teachers rely on slides, worksheets, and unverified online materials instead.
He argues that not using textbooks can harm education quality. Textbooks provide a structured and comprehensive guide for both teachers and students, ensuring that they meet curriculum standards. When schools replace textbooks with various digital resources or homemade lesson plans, it often leads to confusion and a lack of consistency in what students learn.
Thornett highlights that while digital resources like e-books can be convenient and cheaper, they also bring problems. Studies show that reading on screens can hurt comprehension, and excessive screen time is a concern as students spend more hours looking at devices.
The author believes that schools should prioritize using textbooks because they foster a love of reading and provide well-organized content created by experts. He encourages parents to be proactive about the use of textbooks in their children’s education and to advocate for their presence in classrooms. Overall, he makes a case for bringing textbooks back into schools, as they are essential for effective learning.
