Trigonometry classes turn to photocopied textbooks

For the 2012-2013 school year, about 150 Trigonometry/Pre-Calculus Honors students are using a photocopied version of the trigonometry textbook because of a shortage.

According to math teacher PJ Yim, more students than ever require the trigonometry textbook because of this year’s addition of regular Trigonometry/Pre-Calculus, the middle course between Trig Math 4 and Honors to accommodate students’ varying abilities.

Because the school has only 269 bound textbooks, 96 more were needed, but the textbooks are no longer in print, according to math department chair and Trigonometry/Pre-Calculus Honors teacher Debra Troxell.

Rather than buying a set of old trigonometry books, the math department decided to make photocopies, with permission from the publisher, to supply the demand.

Reactions toward these stapled textbooks vary. Some students appreciate them while others prefer having a non-photocopied textbook.

“The [text size] is a lot bigger than the regular textbooks,” sophomore Preethi Ravi said. “I like it because it’s easier to see.”

Some students, however, do not see past the drawbacks.

“I think the [photocopied] textbook is inconvenient because it’s a lot of extra papers that I have to carry around,” sophomore Nathan Fotedar said.
   
Troxell is confident the department is doing what is best for students.   

“We didn’t do it by choice,” Troxell said. “We did it because we’re passionate about this book being the best.”