Education director Vaitinasa Dr. Salu Hunkin-Finau is urging public school teachers to use the many resources available to them these days, including online resources, newspapers, and e-books instead of depending solely on text books to put together lessons for their students.

Speaking at a recent news conference, Vaitinasa said that a majority of ASDOE’s annual budget — about 80% — comes from federal grants, including the Consolidated Grant, which is about $40 million annually, while approximately $20 million comes from local funds (which cover mainly salaries.) Any left over local funds are also used to purchase supplies such as text books, she said, adding that questions regarding the lack of textbooks and shortage of classroom furniture are some of the things she is frequently asked about by the Fono, parents and others.

She explained that some 30-40 years ago, “teachers and the entire curriculum were dependent on text books which ‘geared the learning’ [but] in today’s world and how the teachers have been trained, they should not have to depend on a textbook. They can use their laptop, which most all the teachers have and can get lessons — beautiful lessons — out of technology.”

“And the standards that we teach today, which are called career college ready standards, [teachers] can use all resources available to them. How and what material the teacher uses is up to the teacher, who is talented, and can think of ways to put together lessons, instead of depending on a textbook,” she said.

“So people who are crying for textbooks are just very dependent on textbooks — parents, students, and still we have teachers who are very dependent [on textbooks]. But if you work on those lessons the students read, it doesn’t have to be out of a textbook. You can google Times Magazine, or New York Times — and other types of resources.”

With modern technology today, she says students don’t depend on textbooks, as they have iPads, iPhones and read everything online. She reiterated that a teacher who is resourceful would find ways to put together a lesson plan for students.

“And that’s the encouragement that we’re trying to work with, with our instructional personnel — don’t depend on a textbook — there are various sources available, so that the kids are up to date,” she said, adding that ASDOE is pushing e-books and the e-library as there are millions of things online to help teachers.

 She noted that her son comes home to do science or history projects and they google information or the person being studied for a history project.

“So I’m thinking, as a parent, if I can do that, why isn’t the teacher doing that? Google it. Get on different websites to help the students out,” she said.

Furthermore, “many of the textbooks are out of date. Research and new information is coming out very fast, and by the time they print the textbook, it’s outdated. Teachers get more information online.”

According to the director, the rate at which books are lost or destroyed is “high”. She also explained that the current cost for a book is about $75 for 3rd graders and ASDOE doesn’t have the local funding to continually buy books for every student, in every school, in every classroom.

“We’re talking about 14,000 kids— there is no way that can be done with local funding,” she said. “The only idea is to move everybody into e-books and use the technology. Again every teacher has access to a lap top and students know how to use iPads and iPhones — and using today’s technology is cost effective.”