BY JESSICA WEAVER
It is understandable that some high school students are not fans of textbooks. For many they represent endless pages of homework and hours of studying. But with recent changes in the process of distributing textbooks, which involves waiting in line for long periods of time to get books from the book room, students are now dreading the process of receiving a textbook more than the textbook itself. Although the book room seemed like an excellent idea, with over 2,000 students crowding the halls of Cooper City High School in need of books, it hasn’t really worked out as planned.
The original thought process behind the book room was to make textbook distribution more efficient. The new system requires students to turn in all their textbooks before receiving new ones. This puts the responsibility of bringing back textbooks in the student’s hands rather than the teachers. Students must now wait in one line to return their textbooks, move to another line to show their new schedule, and then switch lines again to pick up their new books. Going through three distinct lines may be orderly, but it doesn’t work from a time management perspective.
Waiting in these long lines has not only angered impatient students, but it has also created problems with them making it to class on time. No matter how early students get to school, the line never seems to shorten and with three different steps it is a very time consuming process. This can cut into class time or even a student’s lunchtime, which are important for students just beginning to figure out their new classes. Although, students are able to get books before and after school, the students who ride the bus are unable to wait in these long lines. The book room should allow students to receive their text books without affecting their own personal time.
Not only does the book room cause a disturbance in the student’s daily routine, but it also prevents them from being able to do assigned work. As much as student’s hope that they won’t be get homework the first week of school, some teachers still assign it. The long wait and cutting off of the lines after the bell rings can leave students without their textbooks for days. Students should be able to receive their textbooks before they are assigned homework, and the only way to do so is if textbooks are distributed from the class rooms like they once were.
Individual teachers used to distribute the books, in class, as they were needed. Now, student must check out all of their books at the beginning of the year whether they use them right away or not. The previous system helped students keep track of their textbooks and not misplace them. Also, it saved administration and volunteers from having to collect un-used books from students and distribute them to others. As much as students appreciated the hard work put in, they’d much rather not have to deal with book room at all.
For such a simple task, the book room has become a complicated process. It would be easier for students as well as administration to have students receive their books from their classrooms on the first day of school. This way, students would have no excuse for being late to class or not doing their homework. Although initially thought of as a helpful process, the book room has become a nuisance to students and staff alike.
