Shortsighted on Textbook Publishing

Quite right about the money. As far the industry goes....and the money. Expect the digital divide to grow.

Parents, even in "modest" (it is comparative) school districts will take advantage of the more affordable Kindles.

For the purposes of this discussion, I will write a book. The technology resource person at Millard P. Fillmore Grammar school will have a free download programme to allow that book to be personalised.

"Billy's parents said, 'we're going on a picnic'."
"Susie's parents said, 'we're going on a picnic'."

Then there is the intra-net. Analogous to the Website I had on my computer for my own purposes. If I'd had a business instead of being a free-lance website designer, all in the office would have had access. Soon, Teachers will be website designers for their classes [read: students.]

As many homes have computers, a teacher with an iPhone can upload a free tutorial on You Tube that her class can view. This can be done either at home, or in schools with computers, students can do this at school.

I know about the money situation. I attended a Board Meeting where one guy: "This is Grandfather's wrench. He gave it to my father. My father gave it to me. I will give this to my grandson. Why do we need new computers." Yes, that is as close to the quote I can get.

The temporary financial crunch has us looking very short-term. Okay, publishers will be publishing e-books. @ .99 that is not a lot of revenue. And much of that revenue will be lost.

I assigned Judy Blume to my class. I bought books at a discount because I had a job in a bookstore. Now??? I can assign 4 books for the price of one. If Judy Blume isn't writing them someone else will.

If publishers think they will survive by saying, "Oh, yes, we know all about that. We're setting up an e-book division even as you post your monographs to your blog, Slim." They are in for a rude awakening.

It would be easier for me to write my own math text book for my 7th and 8th grade classes, put them on Amazon, and give the 34% royalty (on 99 cents) back to the school, than to try to convince the school officials we need to buy math books that will suit the students needs.

Planning lessons is not that much easier than writing a chapter in a math book.


Regards,

Slim

slimfairview@yahoo.com


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