Gov. Perry proposes online textbooks

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Gov. Rick Perry suggested traditional textbooks should be removed from Texas classrooms throughout the next four years and replaced with digital textbooks.

He made the remarks at a gaming symposium in Austin Wednesday.

Perry has proposed a $160 million initiative to expand the number and scope of Texas Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (T-STEM) academies, as well as to fund STEM scholarships.

He also proposed replacing textbooks with computer software, a proposal he said he plans to bring before the 2011 legislature.

He said textbooks get out of date quickly and that computer software and technology can take their place.

"I don't see any reason in the world why we should have textbooks in Texas in the next four years," Perry told the crowd at the "Game On!" symposium.

He said school officials can help students get access to computer technology because costs are coming down. However, he said he did not have a cost comparison between books and online educational materials.

"In 2010, do we really want all print textbooks? Absolutely not," said lobbyist David Anderson, who once served as curriculum director for the Texas Education Agency. "It's just not appropriate for the way kids learn or the way they communicate. There has to be a variety of electronically delivered materials."

Perry said using computer technology would allow teachers and administrators to instantly update curriculum.

In the last legislative session, lawmakers passed a bill allowing school districts to spend textbook money on electronic curriculum.

Perry's opponent in the upcoming election, Democrat Bill White, issued a statement Wednesday saying he has long been an advocate of expanding broadband Internet access to schools who want to diversify their curriculum at lower costs.