Do you agree that public schools lend free scholastic books?

I think they should continue to loan the books free but make them sign a contract stating that they or a parent/guardian is responsible for the damage of all books and if damaged has to pay for another one. That would seem only fair. Because them damaging the books only makes it harder for kids who do enjoy it and need those free books to help them expand their minds and learn different things though the power of a book.

What is the alternative, get the parents to buy the books like they do in college? If that happened , there would be so many poor kids that would Never have school books.Back in the dark ages, I was issued a textbook for my classes from kindergarden thru highschool. One year I got to be the first person to use the textbook, it was great.

they do it here too, kids don't take care of books, it is awful

I dun think there's such a pratice in singapore.. It's either those poor students get their textbooks for free from the school, or that they will pay a much lower price to buy those textbooks.. If not, another alternative by parents will be enrolling their siblings in the same school, so that they can share the textbooks around, without needing to pay more.. haha ^_^ Loaning of textbooks is never a good idea, because students wun be able to take or copy notes in the textbooks, and if the cycle keeps continuing, very soon, the books will become notes instead, as the condition is too bad.. So i guess, it will be good to make some changes to that policy ^_^

Here in my country, our schools lend free books to students too, and they are expected to be returned in good condition too, and sometimes they aren't. I think they should make the students pay for those books that are brought back in a bad condition, if its not readable and the pages are falling out, I think its wasting money too.

I's a good way to save resources to recycle the books. But some rules should be made to mesure that every book is returned as they were lent.

Hi ronald, Most students may not be able to afford to buy these books and it has to be a great help in that way. Having said that, I have always noticed that when people are given something, many will not appreciate and take care of it as they would if paying for it. It is very unfortunate because the idea is a good one and probably means that many would not get an education otherwise. Blessings.

I spent my highschool years in a public school where at the end of the year we have to return the books in goodhands. We usually have to have a clearance for us to be enrolled for the following year, and if the books are returned in a not so good condition, we are required to pay or buy a new one. Thus, we took care of our books very well. I guess, the very reason that the country is spending so much on my education should be the main motivator on why I should take care of these books. The idea behind the lending is that to have other students use those books without much hassle to the ones who donated the books.

In the UK the children are allowed to borrow books too from school and like yourself they have to bring them back in good condition or have to pay the school for them if they are in bad condition...littleowl

i think that if they are nice enough todo that people should appreciate & take care of them. if they don't they should be put on a list of do not lend to this person. might be a little more work for the staff but think it would pay off in the long run.

Our public school system supplies them but in our school district, if the book comes back destroyed, they must pay for it. I went to Catholic schools growing up and it was part of our tuition.

Yes, in Australia our children are lent textbooks at the beginning of the year. The books have a number and the child's name is marked against it in the teacher's book. You have to hand them in at the end of the year. Textbooks are really expensive, so it's a good way of ensuring every child has a book. If not, there are many parents who would not be able to afford it.

Hi ronaldinu, In my school days we have to keep our books in good condition or we get a belt across our hands, so the books well kept by all. Tamara

I know certain public schools offer the free scholastic book...... I think it is good.... if it is free and "good".... then it is fine... I don't think they give these kinds of books just for avoiding the tax problem.......

Here the public elementary, middle, and high schools provide the text books for the kids. When I, my kids and grandkids were in school when the books were distributed they books were gone over to check the condition of the books. The kids wold then have to put their name or the number of the book was registered with the teacher. At the end of the year those books that received the most damage had to be replaced by the child. But since the books are almost out of date with in a year or two they have to be replaced any way. This is one of the things that our school district taxes go for. We also have what is called PTA doing fund raiser that helps to pay for books and any thing else the school might need.