New Science Textbooks

Betsy Hammond
Portland school board agrees on new science textbooks—but might not buy them due to money woes
http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2011/02/portland_school_board_agrees_o.html
2/28/2011
Topic: Science and school budgets

Science teachers of the district have all agreed to use SEPUP (Science Education for Public Understanding Program) published books for the middle school curriculum and Pearson published books for the high school curriculum. The district administrators are trying to instill a uniform curriculum that will provide equity throughout the schools in their teachings of science. The school board has not agreed to purchase these books as of yet because of the budget cuts. Intended audience: Anyone in the Portland school district advocating for better science courses.

Key Points:
The new textbooks will be used to teach physics and chemistry, as well as AP and IB biology, physics and chemistry
The board is expecting to make a $20million cut to balance out their upcoming school year
The textbooks will be used to strengthen upper level science courses

Relevance: The school district teachers and administrators make a good point in terms of inconsistencies between the schools curriculum. Each school uses different books for their classes, and not all of the schools have the same quality and quantity of equipment to work with. Does this necessarily mean that the kids are getting inconsistent education? I agree that having the same books to use district wise will provide equity in the curriculum, but the books aren’t going to teach themselves. Cutting more and more teachers isn’t helping to improve the curriculum either.