Some schools choose digital textbooks rather than paper.

 

Even if there is a database, many schools do not have 1:1 access to technology for students. Additionally, some students do not have access at home.

 

Then we need two history classes with one of the classes requiring advanced materials and access.

 

And if anyone says that isn't fair get off your behind and make it happen for your children.

Also, this gets back to the whole problem of funding education. Local school districts should have the kind of schools, materials, and access they are willing to pay for with local tax revenue.

 

Get everyone competing and make everyone truly accountable for their local school district and all the weak links will be exposed and we can be great.

 

If your local school district is a turd or doesn't want to fund education properly you move or they raise taxes.

In response to Ru, I personally think that using the internet as the dominate teaching method would have the opposite effect. Because of the nature of the internet, any Joe-Shmoe can get online and publish an article that fits his or her own agenda. The vast amount of differing opinion pieces on the internet would make getting a baseline understanding of historic events a nightmare. Even using articles from established, legitimate sources can result in a different understanding of how or why an event occurred. Whereas if you use a universal text book as the foundation for your lessons, everyone will at least have a similar understanding of certain events. You can then use articles/ opinion pieces as supplemental teaching devices.

 

Now, I do think that textbook publishers could do a better job and providing a baseline recollection of historic events with less political influence. But, at the same time publishing companies are in the business to make money, and they know that their largest buyers are schools in Texas, which are traditionally more conservative.

 

And while I do feel as if politics needs to be, to a certain extent, kept out of history textbooks, politics and education have always gone hand-in-hand. Such can be seen through the strong liberal slant of the higher education system.

Getting off topic here, but I'd be curious to know how much flexibility an educator has in terms of putting together a curriculum that doesn't rely on a textbook, especially in a subject like History where primary documents and such are readily available online.

 

On one hand a textbook can make be extremely helpful - all the basics of a subject are laid out right there. On the other hand, they might be required by the BOEs or state governments as part of fulfilling standards and requirements.

 

I would say that flexibility differs from place to place. One thing to consider is that in today's educational society, you are accountable per whatever testing system you are under, so a great importance is placed on accountability standards.

 

For my nineteen years of experience, I have often added to whatever was the official curriculum. Only once was I questioned about it, in a professional development in which a presenter was looking at my curriculum documents and pointed out something that was on it that wasn't part of the required standards. "Why are you teaching this if students won't be tested over it?" My answer, "because I know that they need to know it, regardless of what the standards say." She walked away.

 

I will add that many parents get majorly put out if their kid does not have a textbook to bring home. Parents that like to help children with their homework want to have a resource to fall back on.

In response to Ru, I personally think that using the internet as the dominate teaching method would have the opposite effect. Because of the nature of the internet, any Joe-Shmoe can get online and publish an article that fits his or her own agenda. The vast amount of differing opinion pieces on the internet would make getting a baseline understanding of historic events a nightmare. Even using articles from established, legitimate sources can result in a different understanding of how or why an event occurred. Whereas if you use a universal text book as the foundation for your lessons, everyone will at least have a similar understanding of certain events. You can then use articles/ opinion pieces as supplemental teaching devices.

 

Now, I do think that textbook publishers could do a better job and providing a baseline recollection of historic events with less political influence. But, at the same time publishing companies are in the business to make money, and they know that their largest buyers are schools in Texas, which are traditionally more conservative.

 

And while I do feel as if politics needs to be, to a certain extent, kept out of history textbooks, politics and education have always gone hand-in-hand. Such can be seen through the strong liberal slant of the higher education system.

 

Not what I mean, I mentioned Wikipedia as a guide but in short this would have to be government approved and it would have to include ALL history. Schools could decide what they want to teach/focus on but the important piece is that ALL history is available to the student at any time including dissenting views that for example may include why teaching about Slavery/Jim Crow/KKK is so important to the overall understanding of the development of the United States.

Do new Texas textbooks whitewash slavery and segregation? - LA Times

 

For my conservative friends, I couldn't find an article on Foxnews about this issue. My apologies.

 

How hard did you look? here's an article from last fall. You're welcome.

 

Texas OKs most new controversial history textbooks amid outcry | Fox News

Far be it from me to politicize, but...

 

 

...The new textbooks are in line with statewide standards adopted in 2010 by the Texas State Board of Education, a 15-member elected panel dominated by Republicans.

 

Aren't they elected though...it's not like the governor stacked the BOE unlike here in Kentucky where the Gov appoints all of the BOE.

 

It is currently a 10-5 split in Texas...reading through their individual profiles it appears to be a very accomplished group that has been elected...except for the vice chair.

 

Texas public schools are not obligated to use the state-approved textbooks, but many schools choose to do so rather than research and buy their own books.

How hard did you look? here's an article from last fall. You're welcome.

 

Texas OKs most new controversial history textbooks amid outcry | Fox News

 

Now I can believe it's true. :lol2:

How hard did you look? here's an article from last fall. You're welcome.

 

Texas OKs most new controversial history textbooks amid outcry | Fox News

 

I looked on their current page. I also looked for a search feature on their site. Couldn't find one. You're also welcome.

Far be it from me to politicize, but...

 

 

...The new textbooks are in line with statewide standards adopted in 2010 by the Texas State Board of Education, a 15-member elected panel dominated by Republicans.

 

From the article:

 

Slavery was a “side issue to the Civil War,” said Pat Hardy, a Republican board member, when the board adopted the standards in 2010. “There would be those who would say the reason for the Civil War was over slavery. No. It was over states’ rights.”

Not what I mean, I mentioned Wikipedia as a guide but in short this would have to be government approved and it would have to include ALL history. Schools could decide what they want to teach/focus on but the important piece is that ALL history is available to the student at any time including dissenting views that for example may include why teaching about Slavery/Jim Crow/KKK is so important to the overall understanding of the development of the United States.

 

There are some examples already popping up along those lines. Khan Academy, Coursera, Study.com, etc. For the most part, they are all grossly incomplete and the quality differs lesson to lesson (though Khan Academy is quite good for a lot of subjects). I think that sort of thing will be a larger factor in the future.

 

I suppose there's nothing stopping, say, Kentucky from developing a massive online education resource that fulfills its own requirements. I imagine it would take a very long time, but could also be done in conjunction with state universities and teachers. The large costs involved could be offset by districts not needing to rely on overly expensive textbooks.

 

Though, the obvious problem here that I overlook is what TB&G said above in that not every student or district has the kind of technology access to make it fair and effective. So, that would have to be dealt with too.

 

And, of course, there would be some intense lobbying to keep something like this from happening.

@Guru, I agree a system that was able to do this would be ideal, but im not sold on the practicality of this, due in part to the financial stress this would put on an already cash-strapped education system. Aside from the startup costs for developing a database that could provide this, in order for a student to have access to this system, he or she would need a computer with access for the internet. I don't have any numbers, but I'm going to assume that there are numerous inner city schools which are severely under funded and unable to provide enough computer as is, let alone enough to accommodate their students with an entirely web based lesson plan.

Stupid, stupid, stupid.

@Guru, I agree a system that was able to do this would be ideal, but im not sold on the practicality of this, due in part to the financial stress this would put on an already cash-strapped education system. Aside from the startup costs for developing a database that could provide this, in order for a student to have access to this system, he or she would need a computer with access for the internet. I don't have any numbers, but I'm going to assume that there are numerous inner city schools which are severely under funded and unable to provide enough computer as is, let alone enough to accommodate their students with an entirely web based lesson plan.

 

It's not just inner city schools. The rural school that I worked in for nineteen years did not have 1:1 computer access, nor does the more urban school that I will work in next year.

@Guru, I agree a system that was able to do this would be ideal, but im not sold on the practicality of this, due in part to the financial stress this would put on an already cash-strapped education system. Aside from the startup costs for developing a database that could provide this, in order for a student to have access to this system, he or she would need a computer with access for the internet. I don't have any numbers, but I'm going to assume that there are numerous inner city schools which are severely under funded and unable to provide enough computer as is, let alone enough to accommodate their students with an entirely web based lesson plan.

 

I think it is a goal we need to explore.