Chronology Current Month Current Thread Current Date
[Year List] [Month List (current year)] [Date Index] [Thread Index] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Date Prev] [Date Next]

Re: [Phys-l] PSSC +- (c)



What is all the fuss about? Currently the copyright is held by Science
Curriculum, and until fairly recently they still published it. Kendall-Hunt
apparently signed over the copyright to the author who is at Science
Curriculum. They may have stopped publishing it because of lack of
interest. They used to update and publish it.

http://www.sci-ips.com/

Just do a little research!!!!!!!

New copies are still available from Amazon.

Currently SCI is publishing IPS, a research based middle school and 9th
grade text.

The problem is that currently teachers, and parents want glossy books with
lots of ancillary material. Research based books simply do not sell well.
Accurate books do not sell well.

The Modeling program has bought into the IPS textbook so at least it has
support from one area. Actually PSSC has been recycled into a variety of
other sources. McDermott tutorials have borrowed freely from PSSC. There
are now some pretty good research based books such as Minds on Physic or
Jerry Tougher's "Physics" book available. At a higher level you have
Knight.

Then programs like Modeling do not require a specific text, and do not want
students looking ahead in a conventional text.

PSSC may actually be somewhat outdated in terms of the research, and may
have served its purpose. If you really want it again contact SCI-IPS and
they may be able to sell you some copies.

But remember if it won't sell, it won't be published. How many on this list
have made it a required text? And if it is not suitable for your courses
how many HS teachers can you convince to make it required? I would be
surprised if you could convince just one. Remember most HS teachers do not
really control the text adopted by their school system.

John M. Clement
Houston, TX


Could it be too little profit from such a simply produced text? --no
glossy pics, etc. and too much cost to bring up to current (horrible)
standards?

bc indulging in his favo. hobby.

On 2009, May 25, , at 21:28, M. Horton wrote:


1) On 5/24/2009 John Denker wrote:

"I find it outrageous that _PSSC Physics_ has been out of print for
several
years. How can such an important and well-beloved book go out of
print?
What's next? Is _The Joy of Cooking_ going to go out of print?