Chapter 6 in Subject Matters was all about textbooks; why they’re harmful and why they shouldn’t be our only resource. The chapter brought up some good points about teaching from the textbook that I hadn’t realized before. What stuck with me the most was how ill-designed they can be and how superficial they are. Textbooks shouldn’t be your one-stop shop when it comes to teaching material in the classroom. Teaching from the textbook is oftentimes extremely boring for students too. Most of the time a textbook gives information overload with copious amounts graphs, pictures, and anecdotes in an attempt to make something resonate with a student. This is unnecessary and just adds to the list of why other resources like videos, different texts, and activities should be supplemented in place of the textbook.
Textbooks are also really expensive, making it difficult for schools (and students) to constantly get the latest and greatest textbooks on the market. This can lead to outdated information or information that’s biased in general. Many times a textbook has a handful of authors and by teaching solely from the textbook you're constantly subjecting your students to the opinions of those few authors. By providing students with a multitude of resources, you’re creating well-rounded students that have been exposed to a multitude of opinions and perspectives. (WC: 219)
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