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I've wondered why there isn't a set of national texts available for core math and science subjects. They're pretty stable subjects. So at one point I decided to
by nhebb 15y ago
I've wondered why there isn't a set of national texts available for core math and science subjects. They're pretty stable subjects. So at one point I decided to find out what the mission of the Dept. of Education is, and the shocker (to me, at least) was the following little blurb from the ed.gov website.
"In creating the Department of Education, Congress specified that:
No provision of a program administered by the Secretary or by any other officer of the Department shall be construed to authorize the Secretary or any such officer to exercise any direction, supervision, or control over the curriculum, program of instruction, administration, or personnel of any educational institution, school, or school system, over any accrediting agency or association, or over the selection or content of library resources, textbooks, or other instructional materials by any educational institution or school system, except to the extent authorized by law. (Section 103[b], Public Law 96-88)"
So even if we wanted to have national standards for math textbooks, the Dept. of Education is prohibited by law from doing so.
- hexis 15y agoI would imagine that school districts could co-operate among themselves to begin a project like this without Federal leadership. That they do not is telling.
- keithpeter 15y agoHello All from the UK http://www.education.gov.uk/schools/teachingandlearning/curriculum/secondary http://www.education.gov.uk/schools/teachingandlearning/curr... The alternative is to specify the National Curriculum and then second guess the changes each time the government changes. School maths is a socially determined thing. It has little to do with mathematics in University departments or the ways in which mathematical reasoning is used in other areas of life. Definitions vary. PS the new textbooks by pearson, stanley thornes, longman &c are relatively error free.
- Hubbert 15y agoI believe that this is intended to preserve the principle of local _control_ over education. I don't see how that would prevent the DoEd from creating a series of reference textbooks, adoption of which would be voluntary. By way of analogy, the FAA produces an ab initio flight curriculum: students are free to use Cessna's curriculum or Bob Gardner's curriculum, or can use the FAA's curriculum (which is probably free online and available cheap in paperback form).
- Drbble 15y agoCompulsory standards are prohibited, to protect freedom in the several states. This is a good thing. Voluntary standards are not prohibited. Also, http://ck12.org http://ck12.org for open textbooks.