Cost of Textbooks Are Rising

      It seems as working two jobs is not enough for a De Anza College student, wondering whether buying gas or books is more beneficial.

      Luis Gonzalez, 21, a sociology major, works at two restaurants to pay for school. Even with financial aid it is difficult to buy school supplies such as textbooks.

    Gonzalez already has to help his parents out with house bills and lives in San Jose, commuting to school is more than 40 dollars a week. On top of that, textbooks aren't helpful.

   “It's bs because I don't feel like we should be paying that,” he said, “the school should provide that for us. It's a big stressor. If we don't have the money on time, then we fall back on our homework.”

                                                    photo courtesy: usatoday.com

• "The College Board estimates that the average student in this country spends around $1,200 a year on books and supplies. A single book can cost as much as $200."

http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/personalfinance/2014/02/02/cnbc-college-textbooks-expensive/5038807/ 

• "College textbook prices are 812 percent higher than they were a little more than three decadesago, the American Enterprise Institute, a think tank, reports. Textbooks costs have well outpaces the 559 percent increase in tuition and fees over roughly the same period."

photo courtesy: huffingtonpost.com

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/04/college-textbook-prices-increase_n_2409153.html

   
 Gaby Barajas, 20, a major in business marketing, also agrees on this notion.

Already having her plate full with being a new mom, money is very tight around her household.

      “Textbooks costs are ridiculous books shouldn’t be that high even when college is already expensive. We already need laptops for college and that is expensive enough,” Barajas said, “Supplies are reasonable but textbooks shouldn't be 100 dollars to rent a math textbook.”

   Barajas doesn't have the money to purchase these books for she would rather buy diapers for her son, therefore she doesn't buy the textbooks. Barajas tries to find the books somewhere cheaper.

    Out of 6 students asked about this dilemma, all agreed that textbooks in general are too expensive.

      Kevin Garcia, 21, a political science major, think this is absurd.

     Garcia doesn't believe in the education system, “I hate it. Institutions used to be free and the fact that I have to pay more than I should bothers me.”

    Working a 8 minimum wage job does not help Garcia either for he knows that the beginning of every quarter he will have to pay for textbooks and it will come out of his check.

    Victor Noguera, 22, a economics major, believes that the cost of textbooks are they way they are for a reason.

     "The high cost of college texts would be lowered in a minute if college instructors had any financial responsibility for the cost of textbooks. Of course some instructors are very diligent about watching prices, and some institutions have made it a goal to lower textbook costs. But the average instructor? In the battle between moral imperatives and economic incentives, follow the money."

http://scholarlykitchen.sspnet.org/2012/10/10/why-are-college-textbooks-so-expensive/

photo courtesy: nacs.org

http://www.nacs.org/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=_Jz-tFOW7oM%3D

 
 “It depends if there is a shortage of supplies, is theres a surplus of textbooks then the price should not go up like that, but if theres a shortage then the higher of the price,” Noguera says, “ Its all about supplying demand, not everyone will afford it but those that really want it are willing to pay whatever the cost is.”

    This study conducted students to realize there needs to be a change in the education system.

   Cristin Marin, 20, a civil engineer major, supports the idea of making changes to the price of textbooks.

   “It's too expensive for a community college. Even though students work, it is still not enough for someone that works part time. There are also other concerns. Giving so much money for a book that will only be needed for a quarter is ridiculous,” Martin says, “I believe the dean should look into getting the prices dropped. The school should at least help out the students.”