Schools should switch to using e-books

The school will give an eBook reader to each student, and books are downloaded for each class. More expensive readers cost 200, but a Kindle or similar reader would be in about the same range as a textbook. And remember, there is more than one textbook. If each textbook cost $90, and each student requires 5, that's 90x5 = $450 to supply 5 textbooks that have a lifespan of about 4-7 years. An eBook reader costs 100 dollars, and it should have a lifespan of 4-7 years or so (same as a textbook), and the textbooks should be free or cheaper for the school because the school will have a license. (Let's say the school pays 700 dollars for a license to download the book onto e-book readers without having to pay for every download). That's 100 dollars per student, plus the licenses that apply to the whole school. The higher consequences of a broken e-book may actually be a "deterrent" that prevents students from losing the eBook reader or scribbling on it, and risks of dropping it can be minimalized by using a rugged casing purchased at the store. A rugged casing can cost about 60 dollars, which is about the same as what most people spend on book covers (each book cover costs $3 x five books a year x 4 years = $60) Kids graffiti on books since it is hard to look through every page and find every scribble, making it an "easy way to be rebellious". Only an idiot would graffiti on an eBook because it is easier to be caught doing it. Carrying many heavy books over a long period of time is bad for one's health, and some schools even check the students for posture because of this! They would save money if they didn't have to hire the doctors for the day (where I'm from there aren't any school nurses). Bad posture is not a good thing to have. It can cause worse problems (such as a bad back or even collapsing) later on. The only possible health concern with an eBook is eyestrain, and that is only if the reader uses a backlit screen (most eBooks have a paper-like screen). Then there is the tree argument. Trees are being cut down and turned into worthless paper faster than they can grow back, and even though we should be in a digital age, we use more copy and notebook paper than ever before. We are often told to reduce use of paper by using recycled TP and cloth napkins, but rags are unsanitary and recycled TP irritates the buttocks. Instead, we should get rid of paper in a place where we would BENEFIT without it, that is, textbooks. Finally, there is the benefit of being updateable. Many kids are taught wrong, outdated knowledge because it costs so much to print new textbooks (even if it is just a section on how Pluto is no longer a planet). Since 2000, five new elements have been discovered and researchers are finding the truths about history. Many things once thought to be right have been proven wrong. It would cost less to update a textbook or textbook section on an eBook than it would be to kill more trees and print new books. The school pays less, and the kids get more accurate information. Of course, the transfer from trees to technology will be somewhat gradual, at first allowing kids to rent e-readers and then phase out books completely, and it may cost more at first, but the benefit outweighs the initial cost.