Re: Middle School Physical Science Texts: dishonesty

[Larry Woolf <Larry.Woolf@GAT.COM>]

  Could anyone in
> the physics community be induced to work on a good middle school book, in
> collaboration with chemists, and biologists?  Would one of the PER research
> teams be willing to work on such a project?

As I mentioned in my previous post, there are a fair number of middle
school science programs just being published or under development - all
research-based programs funded by NSF.  Take a look at NSF guidelines for
developing instructional materials for more info on what hoops they have to
jump through.

> Having a good book does not necessarily mean that it will be adopted or
> used.

A book will not be used unless it has been approved for adoption by the
state.  If a book has been approved for adoption, then schools will be
reimbursed for the purchase.  For the most part, schools aren't reimbursed
for purchasing books that are not approved.

 Who is more
> unintelligent?  The most widely used physics book was adopted by at least
> one school district because it supplied so many extra goodies such as
> overhead transparencies.  Teachers are so overworked that they will buy a
> book just because they think it reduces their work load, irrespective of its
> quality.

This is a good point.  Many teachers are overwhelmed and look for the
easier way to teach something.  Continuous professional development and a
support network are needed for teachers, particularly at the elementary and
middle school levels.  That is why the NSF supports various systemic change
projects.  Many communities have programs that link K-8 science educators
with scientists.

> This is like the automobile safety controversy.  When the reports about the
> problems with cars came out, there was really nothing that the average
> motorist could do.  It took regulations to force the manufacturers to add
> the necessary safety features.  Perhaps this report could serve as the
> wakeup call that spurs people to action.

 I think that there must be legal and economic incentives for textbook
publishers to change - and these must be at the state oe federal level, not
local.

Larry Woolf

Dr. Lawrence D. Woolf; General Atomics, 3550 General Atomics Court, Mail
Stop 15-242, San Diego, CA 92121