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subramanyam P

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Substantial reduction of baggage ( schools books) of children

Each book has to be dismantled and separate them chapter wise, and once it was done - take each chapter of all subjects and insert in a file - by keeping sufficient blank white papers in between. By which I am confident that total weight of the school bag will come down drastically. Presently they carry not less than 4 to 6 Kilos.

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Topics: Children's issues Kids School baggage Text books education
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    Robert Winner 50+

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    Mar 6 2012: Educational book publishers are a multi billion dollar industry that drive the schools curriculum. In an ideal world the student would be given a course map that would display all modules available. The map would guide the student through pre requisites and syllabus requirements. Students would checkout and return phamplets for that module and test out when ready with competent / non-competent exams. There should be two tracts. One for college prep and one for manual trades. Both are necessary. This would allow students to progress at their rate of learning instead of the current lock step method. Teachers would then become collaberators and facilators. Teachers would have the time to provide one on one instruction when needed. That would be the ultimate reduction in baggage. Cheers. Bob
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    Fritzie Reisner 100+

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    Mar 4 2012: One common method in local schools here is that the school district purchases the paperback version of the textbook that involves individually bound units. The school district where I worked did this for the mathematics texts and science texts for children through age 14.A second option, used at the school where my son goes is that almost all textbooks remain at home. Instruction is organized so that students spend their class time doing experiments, having discussions, hearing lectures and taking notes, working on projects, perhaps doing problems the teacher presents on the board... and the reading of the textbook and doing assignments in the textbook happen at home.For older students many textbook publishers make their books available online for students who have a code from school that gives them such access. This option is helpful only if students have access to computers at home.

  • Zdenek Smith 100+

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    Mar 4 2012: This is an interesting idea. Will this increase the cost of text books or will individual chapters become lost?

    Another option is introduction of electronic text books.

    • subramanyam P

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      Mar 4 2012: Hi Smith, Cost of the text books will not increase, rather the text books will be in good order. Presently the text books of all subjects along with their note books are being carried to school as the schools are not interested to stagger the subjects for different days - for example Mathematics - every alternative day and Sociology every other alternative day - like that. So, child has to carry all subjects every day.
      Reg. the option of electronic text books and Ipods or lap tops - considering the developing countries - it is too much to bear and these machines can be stolen and the internet may divert the child's mind.
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        Anne Dagen 10+

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        Mar 6 2012: There are already initiatives to produce very low laptops for use in poorer areas, and the more common they become the less desirable they are to thieves. As to the internet diverting a child's mind - it's just another source of information, and one that has value in education. Why deprive children of access to it?
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