Regarding letters addressing the sad state of our end-of-grade test results , I agree with the two teachers. But as a partly retired teacher/ professor, I would like to add that I very much regret the fact that our children do not receive any updated textbooks — actually, any textbooks.

Yes, good old textbooks that you can peruse and use as reference provide you with support and the knowledge that you can check on the information provided by your teachers.

No, instead, the children are provided with iPads — cold to the touch and much more impersonal than books.

I support technology, but nothing can replace textbooks, taking notes in your own writing in your own notebook while the teacher explains the lesson, underlining important points on the board, writing out homework and, finally, getting actual concrete feedback that will allow our students to see where they made mistakes, correct them and learn.

Old concept — now a logical,  proven learning method. Let’s try it again.

— Annick Nurisso

Salisbury