Honorable Arne Duncan
United States Secretary of Education
U.S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Ave., SW
Washington, DC 20202
Dear Secretary Duncan:
Office of the President
October 8, 2012
I read with interest your recent remarks at the National Press Club suggesting that "over the next few years, textbooks should be obsolete." I encourage you to reconsider this message based on the extensive research about student learning on paper, the affordability of books and paper-based instructional materials, and the sustainability record of paper manufacturing. Traditional textbooks play an important role in helping close the achievement gap among American students in math and
science.
To suggest that textbooks should be obsolete shortchanges the effectiveness of the comprehension and retention provided by paper-based instructional materials. For example, in a recent experiment at the University of Virginia Darden School of Business where students were given an e-reader as an alternative to printed business cases, articles and textbooks, 75-80% of students preferred paper and would not recommend thee-reader to incoming MBA students.
Rather than choosing one technology at the exclusion of another, I would urge you to promote what we have adopted in the business community, which is the complementary use of digital and paper technologies. Paper and electronic formats work together to attract, engage and inform, providing a deeper and more compelling experience than either one on their own. Our research with the millennia! generation confirms that young people do not want to be forced to use one or the other and would rather use the combination of options that work best for each individual.
For all the positive aspects of a digital classroom, there are negative consequences as well. According to a recent Duke University study, "adults may think of computer technology as a productivity tool first and foremost, but the average kid does not share that perspective." The research found that computers and digital access, particularly among disadvantaged families, have a negative impact on achievement scores in reading and math compared to students who don't have a home computer. Another study at Winona State University found that students who used computers in the classroom spent considerable time multitasking, and laptop use posed a significant distraction to both users and fellow students.
Electronic content delivery comes with a cost. Not only are the resource requirements to purchase computers and tablets significant, the additional cost to provide the broadband capacity and the infrastructure required to keep them operational is beyond the economic reach of many schools. Textbooks are cost effective. The Association of American Publishers reported that, on average, states and local schools spent $54.51 per student on instructional materials in 2011, which represents just one half of one percent of the $750 billion spent on all K-12 education.
There are sustainability implications that should be considered as well. Unlike computers, laptops and other digital devices that create considerable waste issues, textbooks can be collected easily and recycled at the end of their useful lives. Building on our legacy as a leader of environmental stewardship, the paper industry Better Practices, Better Planet 2020 initiative provides one of the most extensive sets of quantifiable sustainability goals for a major U.S. manufacturing industry. We transparently report progress toward achieving the initiative's goals in the American Forest & Paper Association's biennial Sustainability Report.
With American students ranking 251 among 34 countries in math and science, I share your concern about the implications for future U.S. competitiveness. Closing this achievement gap will take a multifaceted approach, which will no doubt require content
delivery that includes both printed and digital educational materials. I look forward to the opportunity to further discuss the value and potential that paper-based materials provide our nation's educational system and hope your future public speeches will
reflect the importance of paper-based content delivery alongside digital.
Best regards,
~·
Donna A. Harman
President and Chief Executive Officer