Social and Philosophical Foundations of Education
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Textbook Errors
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Author:  Linda Brock [ Mon Jun 07, 2004 6:07 pm ]
Post subject:  Textbook Errors

In my CI 3850 class (as many of you are in) we watched a video about the textbooks that are used in public schools. The video was a 20/20 special on how many errors are in the text books and how the authors listed on the books really did not write them. I was shocked, however I do remember finding errors in math books.

The most disturbing part was that often the teachers did not catch many of the errors, but are blamed for the poor education of the students. The point of the video was that the publishing companies were aware of the errors but did not change or send out corrections. The most important thing to them was the bottom line- MONEY!!

Once again teachers get the blame for poor education and the rest of society is let off the hook! What are yalls thoughts?

Linda Brock

Author:  Emily Grogan [ Tue Jun 08, 2004 8:31 pm ]
Post subject: 

I was definately disturbed and very surprised to see the frequency of errors in textbooks, especially very well known and extremely important facts. For those of you who are not in the other class, one example I can remember from the video is one textbook that stated the first atomic bomb was dropped on I think Korea, not Japan. Another book also said the exterior of the Statue of Liberty is made of bronze instead of copper.

A concern I have about this, not only are students being taught the wrong facts in many cases, but if teachers do catch the mistakes and teach the children correctly, what if there is a question concering that on their end of grade tests? What if the children answer correctly, but the answer the test gives is incorrect? I think this is a very big problem that needs to be addressed. Their should be stricter standards placed on makers of textbooks by the federal government. If they are placing all these accountability standards on teachers and school systems, perhaps they need to realize that they should also do this with textbook companies so students are not being provided the wrong information in books.

Author:  Brooke Spada [ Tue Jun 08, 2004 9:39 pm ]
Post subject: 

Shame to the companys that make the textbooks. I don't think we can be expected to know all of the answers, yet we will get blammed first. It is always good to further research lessons for knowledge, and to spice them up. Teaching from the text book although may be necessary, is really boring, yet I think it depends on the subject.

Author:  Beth Abernathy [ Sun Jun 13, 2004 9:51 pm ]
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I'm just afraid of how many things that I believed as truths are actually errors. I would hate to teach some one a falsehood.

Author:  Jeff Tutterow [ Mon Jun 14, 2004 9:55 am ]
Post subject: 

Instead of saying shame on the textbook companies, I think it should be shame on the teacher that uses textbooks as the sole source of information. I think that textbooks should be just one tool that a teacher has to help in instruction. If too much emphasis is given to any only tool than the flaws of that tool will be magnified.

Author:  Elyse Boehme [ Tue Jun 15, 2004 9:13 pm ]
Post subject: 

I think teachers and textbook companies need to work together to find errors in textbooks before they are used in the classrooms. The textbook companies could spend some of the $50-150 they charge for books to employee teachers, specialists, and maybe even knowledgable parents, students, or citizens to go over the text information and see if it is correct. This way they would not look stupid after it was published and used.
I think that teachers should teach their students to also question (at middle school age) the texts and to dig deeper and research topics that they are unsure about.

Author:  Erin Eldridge [ Thu Jun 17, 2004 3:38 pm ]
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I find it extremely frustrating that we as teachers are held accoutable for every aspect of education it seems. If we are given the wrong information in hang of course we aren't going to be able to teach our students the correct history. How can we teach it if we weren't even taught right? It is not up to us to break this chain of miseducation. The book authors need to be more careful and less misleading because it does always come back to "us", teachers. That is why I feel it is so important for teachers to focus more on their own way of teaching. Incorporate more of their own ideas and lessons instead of following someone elses. We cannot be deceived by ourselves.

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