A 1977 physics textbook still in use at Fort Bragg High School was one of the casualties of the district”s choice of new textbooks at the May 9 school board meeting.
The 2007 Holt physics textbook moves students from the pre-Internet, pre-Quark era to new books now written specifically to match California”s standards. The board also approved teachers” choices for new Algebra II and American history texts at the high school.
“On the math book, I see they have a Website where the students can go for support …. What a logical next step,” said board member Jennifer Owen.
Assistant Superintendent Kathy DeLuca, who headed up the textbook replacement effort, said textbook companies now do a lot more to make their books easier to use and teach. Most come with compact disks teachers can use at home, rather than “lugging those heavy textbooks.”
Some even come with audio CDs that teachers can pop into their car”s radio, DeLuca said.
Choosing textbooks is more like choosing a car today with competing optional features, such as alternative lessons and Spanish supplements.
The district has estimated the cost at $127,406, said Superintendent Steve Lund. Textbooks are adopted in a six-year cycle by the State, with a seven-year implementation schedule/life for the school district, he said.
Although there were notices in this newspaper and textbooks available for public comment at school sites and the district office, no parents or other members of the public chose to make comments during the process of choosing new science and math textbooks.
The new texts include: Social Science K-2, Science K-8, Algebra II, Physics and Advanced Placement History. California public school districts are required to use state-approved textbooks in order to receive state help in buying the thousands of books required for each subject. California is trying to force an upgrade of its science and math curriculum as part of efforts to improve statewide test scores in those areas. The state now offers five approved choices to schools rather than the old number of three.
But some critics have said the rigorous process of approval eliminates many ideas and results in textbooks that are so stuffed with information and extras that student comprehension is low.
California and 21 other states mandate which textbooks schools can adopt. This is intended to ensure alignment between curriculum, teaching and state testing. But only California prescribes the specific form of presentation, pedagogy of instruction, textbook format, use of technology and permissible references to professional teaching standards in state-adopted texts.
At Dana Gray Elementary School, five teachers met for a full day to evaluate five state-adopted textbooks. One textbooks sales representative got sick, but the choice was still arduous, and the group chose to display two finalists at their site. The Macmillan/McGraw Hill Series was the final choice. Deluca said four criteria were used to make that choice — science content, assessment, lesson design and instructional strategies, and resources in intervention.
At Redwood Elementary School, the staff was informed this year they must adopt one of the state-approved history-social science programs. The staff decided to adopt the Scott Foresman (publisher) program for grades K-2 to be consistent with the program adopted at Dana Gray. Science textbooks at that age are usually read aloud or used for more visual lesson planning.
The middle school science teachers chose the new Prentice Hall “California Life, Earth and Physical Science 2008” after evaluating five offerings and narrowing the choice to two. The board approved the choices by a unanimous vote.
New textbooks for Noyo School and English AP texts will be on the board agenda in June.
For more information about the California Department of Education”s choice of instructional materials, visit www.cde.ca. gov/ci/sc/im.
