"TUI calls on schoolbook publishers" to cop the f**k on

the_syco · 25-08-2010 06:33PM #1

http://breakingnews.iol.ie/news/ireland/tui-calls-on-schoolbook-publishers-to-review-sales-strategies-470810.html
http://news.eircom.net/breakingnews/18479571/?view=Standard

Parents are facing high school book costs because publishers continue to issue new editions of textbooks even though the school syllabus has not changed, a teachers' union has said.

The Teacher's Union of Ireland is calling on publishers to review their marketing and sales strategies in light of increased unemployment and lower wages.

The TUI said teachers were forced to use the latest editions, because it was too disruptive and confusing when students in the same class were using different editions of a text book.

This has always been the problem. 2nd hand books usually did the job, with only slight grammatical differences between the new and old books usually. It's about time someone did this!

King Felix · 25-08-2010 06:35PM

I always used to sell my books to someone in the year below me/buy them from someone in the year above me.

Don't people do that any more?

KeithM89_old · 25-08-2010 06:37PM

Just buy one and photocopy it for the whole class - problem solved

sponsoredwalk · 25-08-2010 06:38PM

Well I think this is justification enough to take away teachers benefits...

Oh, not that kind of thread, carry on!

Misanthrope · 25-08-2010 06:51PM

They're still using textbooks?

There's this new thing called the internets which is like a series of tubes.I think Al Gore invented it.Anyway I'm told it is not bound by the conventional limitations of the printing press, invented by one Joe Gutenburg in 1440.

Perhaps someone should look into this.

Terry · 25-08-2010 07:05PM

Misanthrope wrote: »

They're still using textbooks?

There's this new thing called the internets which is like a series of tubes.I think Al Gore invented it.Anyway I'm told it is not bound by the conventional limitations of the printing press, invented by one Joe Gutenburg in 1440.

Perhaps someone should look into this.

Yeah, because all schools have unlimited amounts of PCs and laptops.

GLaDOS · 25-08-2010 07:07PM

Terry wrote: »

Yeah, because all schools have unlimited amounts of PCs and laptops.

Also if I had a laptop instead of a book in school I'd have gotten no work done...

Chuchoter · 25-08-2010 07:13PM

About time. My brother when he was going into 1st year last year had NONE of my books, though I had just finished junior cycle that year (I was going into 4th year)

Wertz · 25-08-2010 07:14PM

...and the great Folens conspiracy continues.

Churn out the same sh*t with slightly different wording and some revisions every 2-3 years, have someone at the dept of education add it to the syllabus and watch the euros roll in, all the while making sure that any secondhand or book re-use scheme is undermined by a decree from on high that the latest texts must be used.

Foolproof.

CrazyRabbit · 25-08-2010 07:21PM

Terry wrote: »

Yeah, because all schools have unlimited amounts of PCs and laptops.

You mean that they don't have all have iPads or Kindle's? Shocking! :eek:

peckerhead · 25-08-2010 07:32PM

Wertz wrote: »

Churn out the same sh*t with slightly different wording and some revisions every 2-3 years, have someone at the dept of education add it to the syllabus and watch the euros roll in, all the while making sure that any secondhand or book re-use scheme is undermined by a decree from on high that the latest texts must be used.

The Department provide lists of recommended texts. Schools choose which ones to use. It's well within the power of teachers and principals (INTO, ASTI and TUI members) to end this institutionalised profiteering. But then the authors of the overpriced tat that passes for school textbooks in this country (largely retired INTO, ASTI and TUI members) would lose out on royalties.

Much better to issue sanctimonious press releases at the appropriate time of year and change nothing. WTF, they want businesses to seek to make less profit?

Celly Smunt · 25-08-2010 07:34PM

if the syllabus hasn't changed why don't the teachers just use the old edition?.....sigh

Misanthrope · 25-08-2010 07:41PM

Terry wrote: »

Yeah, because all schools have unlimited amounts of PCs and laptops.

Ok then............. how much do all the books required for 6 years of secondary schooling cost?In my day it came to about 120 bucks per annum, with many being second hand.Lets round that down and say 100 pa.So for 6 years of textbooks were looking at 600 bucks.You can easily buy 2 laptops for that money if you bulk buy.

Ever heard of the laptop program for African schools.100- 150 for a linux laptop that can do all the basics.

So while Luddites here guffaw at what they think is way too 'out there', ie a computer for every desk,developing nations will be producing an army of computer literate generations.All the while we'll be arguing over the congruence of our paper curriculum while they will be accessing designated sites which are continuously updated and expanded

Bring back chalk boards and dunce caps.Is it any wonder we're falling behind?

Wertz · 25-08-2010 07:42PM

peckerhead wrote: »

It's well within the power of teachers and principals (INTO, ASTI and TUI members) to end this institutionalised profiteering. But then the authors of the overpriced tat that passes for school textbooks in this country (mostly retired INTO, ASTI and TUI members) would lose out on royalties.

...and so the great circle jerk continues.

Don't these people get decent pensions and such?

Celly Smunt · 25-08-2010 07:43PM

Misanthrope wrote: »

Ok then............. how much do all the books required for 6 years of secondary schooling cost?In my day it came to about 120 bucks per annum, with many being second hand.Lets round that down and say 100 pa.So for 6 years of textbooks were looking at 600 bucks.You can easily buy 2 laptops for that money if you bulk buy.

Ever heard of the laptop program for African schools.100- 150 for a linux laptop that can do all the basics.

So while Luddites here guffaw at what they think is way too 'out there', ie a computer for every desk,developing nations will be producing an army of computer literate generations.All the while we'll be arguing over the congruence of our paper curriculum while they will be accessing designated sites which are continuously updated and expanded

Bring back chalk boards and dunce caps.Is it any wonder we're falling behind?

600 bucks?! no way dude?!

mikemac · 25-08-2010 07:46PM

Wait until college.
Some books like law books can cost 100 euro or more.
That's just for one book

And the person who telling you to buy is your lecturer who wrote the damn thing!

Celly Smunt · 25-08-2010 07:47PM

feelingstressed wrote: »

Wait until college.
Some books like law books can cost 100 euro or more.
That's just for one book

And the person who telling you to buy is your lecturer who wrote the damn thing!

law lol.

dory · 25-08-2010 07:48PM

About time! It's ridiculous how often they bring out new ones.

Celly Smunt · 25-08-2010 07:49PM

dory wrote: »

About time! It's ridiculous how often they bring out new ones.

i heard its once a year,crazy

Herb Powell · 25-08-2010 07:49PM

peckerhead wrote: »

The Department provide lists of recommended texts. Schools choose which ones to use. It's well within the power of teachers and principals (INTO, ASTI and TUI members) to end this institutionalised profiteering. But then the authors of the overpriced tat that passes for school textbooks in this country (largely retired INTO, ASTI and TUI members) would lose out on royalties.

Much better to issue sanctimonious press releases at the appropriate time of year and change nothing. WTF, they want businesses to seek to make less profit?

you think the teachers are in on this? I'm sorry but that's the biggest load of bullsh1t I've ever heard

Hank_Jones · 25-08-2010 07:50PM

The Celtic Tiger mentality strikes again.

Robbing bastards really.
Aways bought as many second hand books as possible when I went to school.
My brothers were years ahead and I still used some of their books.

Those poor Celtic Tiger children.

plein de force · 25-08-2010 07:52PM

King Felix wrote: »

I always used to sell my books to someone in the year below me/buy them from someone in the year above me.

Don't people do that any more?

the books are always changing! so sometimes one year might not be using the same book as the one below

ejmaztec · 25-08-2010 07:59PM

plein de force wrote: »

the books are always changing! so sometimes one year might not be using the same book as the one below

It's not down here, where'd you put it?

Lukker- · 25-08-2010 08:04PM

Fair play to the TUI, absolutely joke. Compare some of the texts, the minor differences is laughable.

Misanthrope · 25-08-2010 08:06PM

pmcmahon wrote: »

600 bucks?! no way dude?!

No way what?No way you get 2 laptops for 600.Look ye here ..................................... http://laptopunder300.net/

Or do you mean no way 6 years of school books could cost 600?

How much does one text book cost? Less than 10 bucks?No way......... they vary from about 11 to 35 rag a piece.I sat 11 subjects for leaving, none of which was covered in a single book, at least 2 books per subject.That's 22 books for me at say, 10 bucks a pop for 3 years.
That by today's prices (extremely conservative estimate) is 660 for just my LC

Celly Smunt · 25-08-2010 08:08PM

Misanthrope wrote: »

No way what?No way you get 2 laptops for 600.Look ye here ..................................... http://laptopunder300.net/

Or do you mean no way 6 years of school books could cost 600?

How much does one text book cost? Less than 10 bucks?No way......... they vary from about 11 to 35 rag a piece.I sat 11 subjects for leaving, none of which was covered in a single book, at least 2 books per subject.That's 22 books for me at say, 10 bucks a pop for 3 years.
That by today's prices (extremely conservative estimate) is 660 for just my LC

i was just commenting on your use of the word "bucks",kids these days sigh.

Misanthrope · 25-08-2010 08:19PM

pmcmahon wrote: »

i was just commenting on your use of the word "bucks",kids these days sigh.

I thought as much.It's a result of a certain amount of schooling and living on the far side of the pond.Ask someone for 100 yoyos over here and the outcome would be laughable.
I'll try and use the appropriate denomination next time.By the way nobody here accepts buckskins as payment any more.I'm just way behind the times with my terminology.And I'll wager thee a thrupenny bit I'm ain't the only one

ordinary_girl · 25-08-2010 08:29PM

Wertz wrote: »

...and the great Folens conspiracy continues.

Churn out the same sh*t with slightly different wording and some revisions every 2-3 years, have someone at the dept of education add it to the syllabus and watch the euros roll in, all the while making sure that any secondhand or book re-use scheme is undermined by a decree from on high that the latest texts must be used.

Foolproof.

This pisses me off so much. When I was in school some of my teachers encouraged us to only get the books second-hand, they'd print out the extra bits from revised editions if they magically were needed (they never were).

Stephen · 25-08-2010 08:31PM

Ooh, delicious pedantry.

Terry · 25-08-2010 08:43PM

Misanthrope wrote: »

Ok then............. how much do all the books required for 6 years of secondary schooling cost?In my day it came to about 120 bucks per annum, with many being second hand.Lets round that down and say 100 pa.So for 6 years of textbooks were looking at 600 bucks.You can easily buy 2 laptops for that money if you bulk buy.

Ever heard of the laptop program for African schools.100- 150 for a linux laptop that can do all the basics.

So while Luddites here guffaw at what they think is way too 'out there', ie a computer for every desk,developing nations will be producing an army of computer literate generations.All the while we'll be arguing over the congruence of our paper curriculum while they will be accessing designated sites which are continuously updated and expanded

Bring back chalk boards and dunce caps.Is it any wonder we're falling behind?

You must be American.
Allow me to explain things in a term you may understand.
Shít costs more in Ireland.

My cousin just had to pay over €1,000 for books and uniforms between both of her children.

Also, we call them "Black boards" and not "Chalk boards". "Black" is not a bad word in Ireland,

Wertz · 25-08-2010 08:57PM

Hank_Jones wrote: »

The Celtic Tiger mentality strikes again.

Nah man, this has been going on since at least the 80's...it probably just moved up a gear during the boom and now a lot of people are seeing it for what it is 'cause they're tight for cash.

"TUI calls on schoolbook publishers" to cop the f**k on

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