Do Textbooks Still Have a Place in Schools? By Peter DeWitt

Do Textbooks Still Have a Place in Schools?

"It's not so much that we're afraid of change, or so in love with the old ways, but it's that place in between that we fear. It's like being between trapezes; it's Linus when his blanket is in the dryer ... there's nothing to hold on to." Marilyn Ferguson

Most toddlers walk around with their little blankets. Of course, they call them binkies, blankies and a whole list of other cute names. Just like Linus, toddlers feel unsafe without their blankets because it offers them a level of safety. To young children, it feels unnatural to sit in their carriage or on their bed without their favorite comfort item clutched in their hand.

Many educators feel the same way about textbooks.

After all, textbooks are safe to educators. At any moment's notice when teachers are afraid that they won't have the right answer, they can refer to their textbook for the answer. When they're looking to give class work to students, they can assign a few pages to read. Principals who check lesson plans look to see what textbook pages will be covered that day. Going without a textbook is like a presenter going without a Power Point, it feels uncomfortable. It goes against the norm. It's risky and educators do not feel like they can take a risk.

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