Yet another reason we homeschool... A recent CNN article takes up the issue of textbooks. In Some educators take issue with textbooks the authors outline how several teachers are moving away from state ordered textbooks and outlines some of the problems with the texts. A quote:

"According to Diane Ravitch, author of 'The Language Police: How Pressure Groups Restrict What Students Learn,' four big companies control about 75 percent of the American textbook market. Ravitch attributes the distortion in the marketplace to the states' role in buying the books.

She would like to see less involvement from the states so that 'small publishers have a chance to compete.'

'When you realize that your history books and your science books and your literature books are not the result of experts sitting down and making it a wise decision, but of political pressure groups coming to the state textbook hearings, this is wrong,' Ravitch said."

Of course this is NOT a newsflash to many of us homeschoolers and the blessing of homeschooling is we have the freedom to decide which resources (including textbooks or not) our children will consult during the years of their education.

Peace,
Tenn