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April 21, 2006

The textbook tango

Good series in the Chicago Tribune about textbooks that are either too old or too expensive.

A survey of 50 districts of varying wealth and size shows public schools are failing to provide the most basic tool of learning: a current book in good condition.

Nearly 80 percent of districts surveyed are using textbooks in a main academic area that are out-of-date--at least 8 years old. About 22 percent of districts have books at least 15 years old.

What is interesting is how this issue is a much larger topic on university campuses.

Also in Chicago: A CPS teacher is on the war path about t-shirts.

Posted April 21, 2006 9:30 AM | School Boards

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Comments(2)

Posted by: Mel on April 25, 2006 6:49 PM

I'm so sick of freaking expensive books and the fact they keep coming out with new editions that have like a word changed every five minutes. I have been using the site cheapesttextbooks.com which has really got me through my college years, they gave me really good deals on a whole lot of book sites. I just can't wait until everyone uses sites like this one so that overpriced book companies stop making so much money.


Posted by: Mark Montgomery on September 27, 2006 3:14 PM

I'm pleased that someone is paying attention to textbooks. But why is it that everyone gets so hot and bothered about these aspects of textbooks:
a) Cost
b) Whether kids have them or not

Why aren't we more concerned about the quality? We tend to assume that if something is published by one of the major publishing houses, it must be pretty good. Or at least passable.

Not so.

Some of the best selling books are the worst--if one examines them carefully against state or national content standards. Or if one compares them to best practices in instructional design (as touted by the National Research Council and the American Academy for the Advancement of Science).

I wish school board members asked a few more questions of their school leaders, superintendents, and curriculum directors--questions that really get at the heart of the matter: the quality of the books.

Thanks.