Are Textbooks Important?

Jay Mathews' article, "Most Textbooks Should Stay On the Shelf," is thought-provoking. Textbooks are updated every few years requiring the teacher to revamp lessons (is that a bad thing?), teachers become dependent upon textbooks, they are often dry and boring, and, shockingly, are not always accurate or up-to-date.

Web sites, podcasts, electronic books, software, courseware, online tutoring tips, educational games, and video products are just a few alternative sources. Teachers can use primary source documents, journal articles and other original materials as they create hands-on assignments. In fact, says Mathews, why not have them write chapters to their own text books...