California 'to scrap textbooks'

TheMadcapSyd · Jun 8, 2009

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8090450.stm

California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has unveiled a plan to save money by scrapping school textbooks in favour of internet aids.
Gov Schwarzenegger wants to cut hundreds of millions of dollars in state spending each year.
He says converting to online study will also help keep pupils more up-to-date.
California is facing a state budget gap of $24.3bn and Gov Schwarzenegger on Monday scrapped funding for contracts entered into after 1 March.

Th BBC's Rajesh Mirchandani says Gov Schwarzenegger believes internet activities such as Facebook, Twitter and downloading to iPods show that young people are the first to adopt new online technologies, and so the internet is also the best way to learn in classrooms.
From the beginning of the next school year in August, maths and science students in California's high schools will have access to online texts that have passed an academic standards review.
The governor says digital textbooks can be updated easily - so learning keeps pace with progress.
But our correspondent says the real reason Gov Schwarzenegger wants the change is money.
Last year California spent $350m on textbooks and can no longer afford it.
Authorities are making deep cuts to tackle the budget deficit.
On Monday, Gov Schwarzenegger signed an executive order to scrap funding on contracts from 1 March and bar state agencies from entering into new ones.
He said: "Every state agency and department will scrutinise how every penny is spent on contracts to make sure the state is getting the best deal for every taxpayer dollar."
The Republican governor has ruled out imposing higher taxes to meet the shortfall.
Last month voters rejected a raft of Gov Schwarzenegger's proposals to tackle the deficit.

*EDIT*
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-statebudget-fl,0,95571.htmlstory
The LA times has made a game where you can try to tame the budget deficit in California with what taxes you will increase and what programs you will cut. Can you do better the the state government?

Jesus I've cut everything I thought I could that I didn't think was needed in a realistic sense that wouldn't cause a shit storm in real life, like everything that seemed pratical, while still increasing the rich tax, taxes for oil drilling and letting Prop 13 not apply to commercial property......................................and the budget deficit was only cut by 1/2 so far
Click to expand...

european · Jun 8, 2009

Might be cheaper to print out text as needed for the kids without net access to use.

gardener · Jun 9, 2009

Wasn't he elected on the promise to fix our economic situation? What sort of a job has he done? He's been governor since 2003, how's our economy doing? How many special elections has he held? This last one cost us 70 million.

If he can't provide computers to all our students he better be able to buy text books.

gardener · Jun 15, 2009

What happenned to California's economy during his reign? What was the money spent on?

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California 'to scrap textbooks'

TheMadcapSyd Titanic's captain, yo!

european Member

gardener Realistic Humanist

gardener Realistic Humanist

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California 'to scrap textbooks'

TheMadcapSyd Titanic's captain, yo!

european Member

gardener Realistic Humanist

gardener Realistic Humanist

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