Why Is Homework Important

College textbook fees should either be lowered or erased. In doing so, college students and their families will have less financial burdens, high school students (or adults who have never attended college) will feel more encouraged to attend college, and higher education will become more accessible to those less fortunate. One of the many struggles of being introduced to college is money. According to a report from the Chicago Tribune, the average four-year public college student will pay an annual average of $1,200 for books and supplies alone. In addition, a 2012 report from NPR’s Planet Money states that the average American will spend 0.2 percent of their median household income (roughly $52,000) on books, magazines, and newspapers. This
adds up to about $1,000, which is $200 less than what an average college student will spend on textbooks. These amounts may not appear as very significant to some, but it must be considered that along with doing schoolwork, college students often are forced to partake in a job on the side just to be able to afford supplies along with basic needs, such as food. If textbook costs were to be eliminated, students would be provided with more time to spend in their studies rather than scraping up cash to spend on their food for the week. Furthermore, with textbook costs gone, college will appear much less intimidating for high school students or adults considering working to receive their degree. The New York Times reported on a survey conducted by the Public Agenda which reveals that 2.8 million students enroll in higher education every year. Only one in five students who enroll in an associate’s degree program graduate in three years, and two in five who enroll in a four-year plan graduate in six years. The cost of textbooks and tuition combined with class schedules will more often than not overwhelm new college students to the point that they make the decision to drop out. With this understanding, it is easy to assume that lowered textbook costs would be paramount in preserving and increasing interest in college education. Finally, the absence of textbook fees will open a broad spectrum of opportunities for those who are less fortunate and cannot afford a college education by themselves.
The survey conducted by the Public Agenda states that, for students receiving financial support from their family, the graduation rate is 63 percent. For students paying for their education by themselves, the graduation rate is 42 percent. Less than half of college students that pay for their own education will graduate. In an attempt to increase this statistic, the Affordable College Textbook Act was proposed. This would enact an “open textbook” policy, which would allow colleges only to pay exceedingly small fees to publishing companies in order to have an open textbook resource that would be free to the students that would use it. In doing this, the financial barrier between a less fortunate high school student and a proper college education would be broken, and the percentage of college graduates would skyrocket. In conclusion, it would be highly beneficial to young American adults, as well as the country as a whole, if textbook fees were to be put to an end. Money will become less of an issue, college enrollment would increase, and those who did not have the privilege of attending college before will have the opportunity now. All in all, it will make our country stronger and more stable
financially.