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School Textbooks. Hannah Aliyetti. True or False?. Most publishers are in it just for the money. True. Some make short term profits that are “safe” versus others that take more risky routes. There is a high risk involved in publishing elementary to secondary texts.
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School Textbooks Hannah Aliyetti
True or False? • Most publishers are in it just for the money. • True. Some make short term profits that are “safe” versus others that take more risky routes. • There is a high risk involved in publishing elementary to secondary texts. • True. $500,000 investment -> 100,000 textbooks • Most states have adopted textbooks to use statewide. • False. California and Texas are two examples that do. 20% of total sales of a particular text.
What factors do think might contribute to how a textbook is written/published?
It may or may not surprise you… • Economical • Political
Economical • Publishers money • Textbooks – necessary for learning and provide a curriculum to follow
Economical • In 1980 - $6 billion entire book industry • $1.5 billion elementary, secondary, and college • $1.2 billion encyclopedias, reference, etc. • $660 million mass market paperbacks
Economical • Focus toward intro courses • Provide a general framework and hope it sticks • Make adjustments later if needed • More $$$$$$! • Bad news for publishers: • Only 3 out of 10 books, in general, are profitable • Focus toward states that adopt texts (more next!)
Political • State Adoption • U.S. has no government control over real curriculum content • States can choose to adopt a single text for a class • Approved by committees/agencies • Limited numbers can be selected for use in schools • What does the state believe? • Creationism vs. evolutionism? – big debate to put in textbooks
Who picks the books for the schools? • School board vote • Teachers not normally required to use • What other tools do teachers use now?
As a college student, what do you know about textbooks? Heavy, expensive, dull, lack color, etc.
Did you know? • 55% of college students report most of their knowledge from starting college was due to textbooks. • There is a dispute about how and when to include new research within texts. • There are many ways to save on textbooks: e-readers, open source textbooks, etc.
E-readers within the classroom http://live.wsj.com/video/a-high-school-without-textbooks/AED6577F-5846-4214-A00E-B2FF469DC809.html#!AED6577F-5846-4214-A00E-B2FF469DC809
What are your thoughts? • Do you see e-readers/tablets working or not working within the public school environment? • What are the pros and cons?
Works Cited Apple, M. W. (2001) Textbook publishing: the political and economic influences. Theory into Practice, 28 (4), 282-287. Stambaugh, J. E. & Trank, C. Q. (2010). Not so simple: integrating new research into textbooks.Academy of Management Learning & Education, 9 (4), 663-681.
Works Cited Apple, M. W. (2001) Textbook publishing: the political and economic influences. Theory into Practice, 28 (4), 282-287. Stambaugh, J. E. & Trank, C. Q. (2010). Not so simple: integrating new research into textbooks.Academy of Management Learning & Education, 9 (4), 663-681.