Is the use of e-books a smart idea?

Most schools are transitioning to e-books, ditching regular textbooks, which is more convenient for students who do not want to lug around a large book to school. These electronic books have many benefits, like a read-aloud feature and accessibility anywhere any-time. A student can also better adjust it to their eyes. But what happens for students who possibly prefer something they can flip through and enjoy studying with a real book.

“I believe they [e-books] are better because if you do not have the book at home, you can access it at your house and be able to do the work,” said Deerfield Beach High School junior Fredensky Saintil.

One of the advantages of e-books is that they are better for the environment. Humans are constantly harming the environment and contributing to deforestation by taking down trees to make paper that will not last very long in people’s possessions. According to researchers, consumers waste more than 16 thousand truckloads of books that haven’t even been read once and around 10 million trees are killed to produce books. Although this is the hard truth, most textbooks are either passed down to the next generation or donated to places that rent them out for students. This could be of big help for kids in the future. The same goes for books that are usually used in a curriculum every year like To Kill a Mockingbird. This tends to be an easy option especially for students who would rather use a handy textbook with a student budget.

E-books on the other hand are also a cheap option if a person already has a device to support them. Taking the cost of textbooks that schools use away can provide more care for important or urgent issues. Researchers have said that new paperbacks and hardcovers can cost anywhere from 15 –25 dollars. Students can also ruin perfectly good books by wasting 15 dollars just for them not to last five years or more. Most schools have a limited budget, so they must be careful what they spend it on.

“I do not really like e-books, like I prefer to read physical books because I feel like it helps me concentrate more, and e-books distract me,” said DBHS sophomore Karen Pinto.

While these electronic books carry many advantages, they also have many side effects or disadvantages. These screens can cause eye strain due to the brightness and having to stare at a piece of writing for a long period of time. Along with this, they also need to be charged. It is not as fun to read a book and then have to stop midway because it needs to recharge. Textbook e-books also tend to be taken off a student’s line of access after graduating that year when it could be helpful further in education.

If a student cannot adjust to the switch from physical to screen books, renting out a book or checking it out from a library can also be an alternative. However, although using books that can be held and written on has been the traditional way of learning for hundreds of years, there is the option of electronic books, and it can provide certain advantages for some people depending on what they need. After all, modern society and technology will continue to advance. It’s up to personal preference to determine which side stays present in front of learning humans.

Written by Robin Ismael | Graphic Designed by Robin Ismael

Published October 18, 2023 | ePathfinder | Perspectives