The introduction of iPads to the educational sphere has been celebrated for their benefits to learning. They save money and paper, students are more engaged in material, and ebooks can be bought for a fraction of the price of heavy, outdated textbooks. Clearly, their benefits absolutely justify their implementation. Or does it? Perhaps textbooks remain the superior means of encouraging academic success.

Throughout a majority of classes I have attended, some BCHigh students are found gaming, watching sports, and multitasking while they are “completing” assignments.

Mr. Kirby of the history department said, “Overall, the negative impact would be on distraction … and having study materials and games on the same device more easily distracts less focused students.”

Furthermore, several students have recently been hacked. Even more, many have difficulty remembering information.

According to Kate Garland, a lecturer in psychology at the University of Leicester in England, students reading ebooks with new information had to re-read information several times while students reading textbooks more fully and ably absorbed the material. Students with the textbooks could spatially remember the information easier by remembering where it appeared in the book, and their eyes did not become taxed by the constant glare of the screen. Also, those using textbooks can complete homework regardless of whether they lose internet connection or experience a power outage.

As a sophomore, I made the decision to buy hardcover books to help me to succeed in my classes. Consequently, I pay attention to the teachers, learn information quickly, and find it easier to focus on completing assignments instead of playing Clash of Clans.

Counterintuitively, I find time to get Victory Royales on Fortnite because I am able to succeed in class more easily with the aid of textbooks. More students can obtain higher levels of academic achievement and simultaneously partake in social events, video games, and other hobbies if they return to the old school way of learning.

I encourage fellow students and the BC High community to promote the use of textbooks due to such empirical and first-hand evidence. We must remember: the goal of school is to comprehend information and develop our mental faculties. Textbooks are the best way to achieve this goal.

BC High students struggle with electronic temptations and comprehension because of the medium in which they learn the information. The resurgence of textbooks would allow students to succeed in classes easier and give them more time to enjoy extracurricular activities they love.