Textbook Errors
Q. A
few years ago, there was a scandal about a high-school history textbook in
which 50 of the 200 pages were found to have errors. How are we doing with
regard to accuracy in textbooks these days?
Much
better. The textbook adoption fights in California and Texas have exposed outrageous
mistakes such as you describe, although there is a long way to go. Now that
most states have some semblance of history standards in print, it's easier for
publishers to promote textbooks to decision-makers that focus on the historical
material that's deemed crucial. They don't have as much leeway to "major in the
minors," and miss the mark in terms of that important principle of history
instruction: getting things right.
Part
of the reason for the errors is the publishing industry practice of compiling
textbooks from a broad range of sources, with varying levels of reliability.
Then the publishers "rent" the names of credible, prominent professionals,
usually college professors, to be listed as "editors" on textbooks, to give
that "Good Housekeeping Stamp of Approval" to the product. However, this has
been exposed all too often as a sham - a moneymaker for the professors, many of
whom never even see the textbook to which their names are being attached - and
no guarantee to the public that the material in the textbook is top-notch and
spot-on.
The
Internet has helped a lot in exposing errors and helping teachers and students
network with each other and with the greater academic community to make sure
the facts are kept as straight as possible.
Two
excellent articles sum up much of what's going on, and how policymakers are
trying to help publishers bring better products to market:
"Earth
Daydreams, Textbook Fantasies"
www.campusreportonline.net/main/articles.php?id=291
"The
Great American Textbook Scandal" (deals with science books, but germane)
www.forbes.com/forbes/2000/1030/6612178a_print.html
Homework: The
Illinois Loop, an acclaimed grassroots education organization, has a helpful
page on textbooks: www.illinoisloop.org/textbooks.html
By Susan Darst Williams • www.GoBigEd.com • Arithmetic,
Etc. 114 • © 2007
