Textbook prices an overlooked education challenge

Noelle DiGrazia pulled a thick, worn parcel from her bag and began to flip through the pages inside my office at Durham Technical Community College.

It wasn’t until then that I realized the behemoth hardcover was a textbook.

Noticing my surprise, DiGrazia explained that the extra-large, resealable plastic bags she carries daily help minimize the wear and tear easily committed against the rented tools she needs for education.

The bags, she said, provide a better chance at receiving a full-return on her rentals.

Let me be clear: sure, precautionary methods like DiGrazia’s exemplify the ingenuity we hope to see in our students. But it’s also a glaring example of the extremes our students go to in an effort to manage the skyrocketing costs of college textbooks.

As educators, we’re aware the cost of college has increased at an alarming rate. According to the College Board, among southern states, including North Carolina, the cost of community college has risen 41 percent within the past 10 years.

However, such discussions often focus on tuition and student fees. Textbooks, an essential instructional material, can be equally cost-prohibitive expense for paycheck-to-paycheck students.