DLC proposes a Kindle eBook for all School Children

[RamboLiberal]

Children across America wake up each weekday and toss on a backpack almost as large as they are, filled with heavy and often outdated textbooks. But a proposal released by the Democratic Leadership Council (DLC) thinks the load for the students -- and the financial load for school districts -- can be lightened.

The proposal by the Washington think tank, to the delight of Amazon.com, is titled "A Kindle in Every Backback: A Proposal for eTextbooks in American Schools." It details a situation in which 56 million students from kindergarten through high school would receive a Kindle, or similar electronic reading device, instead of traditional textbooks.

"We're looking to spark a conversation to improve the education of our children," said Thomas Freedman, the author of the proposal and ex-senior adviser to the president and special assistant to the president for policy planning during the Clinton administration.

The sentiment is shared by some school administrators. "Discussion like this opens up the door for online media in the classroom," said Themy Sparangis, the chief technology director for the Los Angeles Unified School District. "We've been talking about it for years, but now it's more than just talk."

The idea appeals particularly to Californians, as the state government has recently approved a number of open-source materials for classroom use, which may help cut textbook costs in the fall.

http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/story?id=8093244&page=1

[lumberjack_jeff]

1. Maria Cantwell needs to get a different job.

Like CEO of a tech company, perhaps.

[Sebastian Doyle]

3. She tried that once

And that's when Real Player turned into a sluggish malware infested piece of shit.

[lumberjack_jeff]

6. Seems like if she's going to spend her days working for Amazon...

... that should mean we the people have a job opening in congress.

[Neecy]

2. interesting concept

I downloaded the free Kindle app for my iPhone, and I wasn't sure I'd enjoy the eBook experience. I like holding a book in my hands, turning pages, etc.

Now I'm hooked on it. And saving the paper involved in making a book is pretty eco-friendly. Moving traditional textbooks to eBooks would save a lot of trees, plus replacing old texts would be a lot cheaper for school districts.

[MadHound]

4. Oh hell no!

As we've seen, Amazon can already reach into your Kindle and remove titles, this means that they can control content, and create a database of what people are reading. There are too many ways to abuse that sort of power. Not to mention that there are going to be books that the students need to read that won't be on Kindle.

Oh, and who's going to be paying for all these Kindle's? Another unfunded mandate like NCLB.

DLC needs to fuck off and die.

[Ewellian]

9. If you're really worried

about a database of what you read make sure you never order books online and never use a credit card at a bookstore. You may want to put on a hat and dark glasses while making a purchase at the bookstore too... surveillance tape. I'm more concerned about someone keeping a record of my taste in music at itunes.

[girl gone mad]

5. This is a really horrible idea..

for a number of reasons.

[omega minimo]

7. NO

:thumbsdown:

[PVnRT]

8. Yeah, that'll work well

Considering my wife had students who gleefully spit their chew into their textbooks, how long before these things break?

[Ewellian]

10. That's the real problem

with this idea. At this point they're pretty easy to break and very expensive.

[nadinbrzezinski]

11. Actually I do envision Kindles or other devices

replacing heavy books in ten years or so

[Romulox]

12. I've been calling for a bailout of Amazon.com for 6 months now! nt

[supernova]

13. The concept is worth a look

but I don't think Kindle is the right appliance.

Yes, it's fragile and yes the content can be controlled or changed on someone else's whims. That's the bad part.

But consider this,

Many kids have back problems from carrying backpacks that are too heavy. That is a real consideration. Anything that would lighten their load would be a help. I remember when I was in school, I got the chance to go to my locker several times a day and get the books I needed, usually only about three at a time. That's not so true anymore. There is less time between classes, and locker times are regulated. Ergo, you carry more books now.