The price of tuition, plus the general cost of living, creates a very expensive equation for the average Pierce College student.
Add that to the new editions of books that raise the prices for the addition of a single sentence that the publisher deemed vital to the understanding of a whole textbook.
The educational purposes of textbooks have been overshadowed by corporate bottom lines.
Bundling books with unwanted supplements leads to higher prices as well.
It’s like buying a pair of shoes that are worth $40 for $100 because the shoemaker wanted to add an extra polka-dot and when you get home, you find an extra left shoe. It just doesn’t make sense.
A new bill written by State Senator Ellen Corbett (D- San Leandro) might change the way some of the biggest textbook publishers operate. SB 832, which has been through many hands, will either pass or die in those of our Governor.
The bill would require that publishers disclose the price of all books in a certain subject and provide lists of edition changes made and how long the new editions will be in the market.
The California Public Interest Research Group (CalPIRG) is backing SB 832, with a much smaller lobbying power than the textbook companies, standing behind it from Corbett’s office all the way up to Sacramento.
Meanwhile, Assembly Bill 1548 has similar requirements of textbook publishers, but is backed by the Association of American Publishers.
SB 832 does not mandate changes to publishers. Instead, it gives them a firm nudge toward helping their prime consumers: us.
In our $75 economics books, we learn that society holds capitalism in high esteem. Getting in the way of their profit margins may infringe on their right to earn money.
On the same note, we learn that inflation raises the price of products. Miraculously, textbooks have dodged that bullet.
Instead, book costs increase at four times the rate of inflation, equaling 43 percent of the total cost of tuition and related payments, according to CalPIRG.
However, there is a capital that is being ignored: human capital.
The education of our future leaders should be priority number one.
Many say these companies are conducting business as usual, like Mona Field, L.A. Community College District board of trustee member.
In a March phone interview from her office at Glendale Community College, Field expressed anxiety about the bill, even though she believes it’s a good topic to keep on the public agenda.
“What I don’t like is to tell students that their expectations are raised and suddenly, next semester, they’re going to walk in and the books are going to cost a whole lot less,” said Field.
“[SB 832] doesn’t lower the price of books, all it does is make sure that information be made available, that’s all it does. It’s a disclosure bill.”
The political science professor and social science department chair happens to be on the 11th edition of her book entitled, “California Government and Politics Today.”
It is about the changing landscape of California politics, which most likely merits the many changes she and her publishers have made.
Bookstores often get the finger of blame pointed at them.
Meanwhile, teachers don’t take on nearly as much criticism for a problem that they can help solve.
Early orders, a myriad of teachers’ questions for publishers and customized books can dramatically decrease book prices.
The Pierce College Bookstore has gone above and beyond to help teachers with their book choices.
From buy backs of used books, to pizza parties for departments who turn in orders on time, to book fairs where publishers’ representatives and teachers meet face to face, the Bookstore has been the Arc De Triumph of saving students money on books.
Our teachers and bookstores can only do so much. Occasionally, there is a book that needs to be changed or needs the accompaniment of CDs. Publishers do need to make a profit.
There is not, however, a need to exploit students.
The very essence of what makes society more progressive is how we educate each generation. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, please hear us: SB 832 needs to be passed.
Maybe Field is right when she says it’s just a suggestion and not a quick solution.
Either way, it’s a step closer to making our students a priority, instead of an easy target for corporations.
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