09-26-2008, 11:18 PM
Our department has instituted a solution, when possible (depends on available funds at any given time) that has, I think, been quite successful. We purchase enough new books so that every student can have one AND every teacher can have a classroom set. That way, students are told to take their books home AND LEAVE THEM THERE because they can just use the classroom sets when needed. It has cut down greatly on books lost and/or damaged due to the constant hauling of them back and forth to/from school and from being tossed into and crushed within lockers. Sadly, we are not able to do it all of the time. Yet its a very cost-effective plan toward the long term maintenence of our books when we are able to meet this ideal. It also asks students to carry one less book around in their backpacks 
. Finally, we found that, in one case, we were able to get paperback versions of a text -- less expensive than the hard covers -- and they held up (and continue to hold up) just fine becasue they are not so abused on a daily basis.
A simple elegent solution that is both sensible and financially sound. All the markings of an idea unlikely to gain traction in District 60... sigh... :roll:
. Finally, we found that, in one case, we were able to get paperback versions of a text -- less expensive than the hard covers -- and they held up (and continue to hold up) just fine becasue they are not so abused on a daily basis. A simple elegent solution that is both sensible and financially sound. All the markings of an idea unlikely to gain traction in District 60... sigh... :roll: