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LETTERS IN THE EDITOR'S MAILBAG.

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Byline: The Register-Guard

Textbook costs hurt high schools

Re the Feb. 1 article, "Costs of books takes toll on students": We oversee the purchase and circulation of textbooks at Churchill High School and are sympathetic when it comes to the hardships brought on by textbook costs. Textbook costs have taken a toll at the high school level as well.

In 2002-03, we purchased $23,470.65 in textbooks. At the end of the school year, the value of textbooks not returned was $20,302. The same thing happens at most high schools. Some loss is due to students who just don't return textbooks until they receive a letter asking them to pay for the books or return them. We include the price of the books in the letter, and that gets them returned (sometimes two or three years later).

However, the biggest loss is with transient students. They are here one day and gone the next, leaving no forwarding address. Three years ago the loss was $47,822. Last year the loss was less than half that amount. But that is because huge amounts of staff time (an indirect cost) go into writing and sending letters to students reminding them to return textbooks.

With the pervasive funding crisis in public schools, we would suggest a couple alternatives. One would be for students to purchase textbooks. They would keep track of them so they could sell them at the end of the year. A second would be to have students pay a refundable deposit. With the average cost of a textbook at $47.54, students and parents need to develop an appreciation for the cost of textbooks.

DEBBIE PARKER

NICKI MAXWELL

Churchill High School library

Eugene

EWEB land could...

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