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Science textbooks are filled with errors
Department of Defense schools might be good model for nation
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Science textbooks are filled with errors: Your child's physical science textbook might be rife with errors, according to John Hubisz, visiting professor of physics at North Carolina State University, and his co-researchers. Over more than two years, they studied 12 of the most widely utilized middle-school physical science textbooks. Along with the factual errors, they found flipped photos, incorrect maps, "irrelevant photographs, complicated illustrations, experiments that could not possibly work, and diagrams and drawings that represent impossible situations."

For another reference on textbook errors, see the Textbook League.

Department of Defense schools might be good model for nation: A study of Department of Defense schools - released in October 2001, showed that "strategic planning, accountability and smaller schools are key factors for raising student performance and closing the achievement gap between white and non-white students..." The success of students in DoD schools, who rank among the best in the nation, might provide a guide for public schools, the report said. The study was conducted for the National Education Goals Panel. For more information, or for a copy of the report, visit the Web site or contact the NEGP at 202-724-0015.

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For More Information:

	U.S. Department of Education - "Overview of Accreditation" and list of agencies
	Textbook League - reviews the quality of school textbooks
	National Assessment of Educational Progress ("The Nation's Report Card")
	National Center for Education Statistics
	National Board for Professional Teaching Standards - "establishing high standards for what accomplished teachers should know and be able to do, and...developing a new system of advanced, voluntary certification for teachers."
	U.S. Department of Education - suggestions for how educators can reach out to single parents, fathers, and parents with limited English
	U.S. Secretary of Education Rod Paige (Expert Voice) - on character development and education reform
	The Education Trust - nonprofit organization working to improve education
	Foundation for Excellent Schools - nonprofit organization "committed to improving student performance in low-income schools"
	Safer Child Personal Finance page - don't forget to teach this important topic to your children
	Public Agenda - this research group refutes the suggestion that parents are upset about education standards. The survey, called "Is There a Backlash Against School Standards?", finds there is "scant evidence" that parents are against standardized testing and tougher school standards.
	American Bar Association - opposes zero tolerance policies that fail to take individual circumstances into account
	Parents for Public Schools - national organization working to involve parents as decision makers, recruit families to return to public schools and improve public schools through district-level involvement.
	First Day Foundation - promotes "family involvement in education"
	Public Education Network - national network of "community-based school reform organizations"
	The Center for Education Reform
	The Center for Education Reform - 2003 ranking (by state) of the nation's charter school laws -- in PDF file format. (Note: In order to view any PDF file, you will need software called Adobe Acrobat Reader. If you don't have it, you can download it for free here).
	Alliance for Childhood - "challenges the increasing emphasis on computers in early childhood and elementary schools"
	Teach for America - college graduates who commit two years to teach in urban and rural public schools.
	Peak Learning Systems - educators' resource center - "for all teachers and administrators looking for ways to make high achievement a reality for all kids and learning by all a dream come true."
	Campbell's Labels for Education - if you already use Campbell's soup products, use the labels from the cans to help support your educational facility
	Daily Apples -- a motivational boost for teachers

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Safer Child, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization with federal tax-exempt status. Please note: 1) External organizations listed herein do not necessarily endorse Safer Child positions, nor do we necessarily endorse theirs. We list them as a courtesy and aren't responsible for their accuracy, completeness or content. 2) We recommend you maintain a healthy skepticism when reviewing information on the Internet; it might appear to be reliable -- yet actually be false, misleading, incomplete, out-of-date and/or intentionally harmful. 3) There might be material on the Internet that you disagree with or find objectionable; preview all sites before viewing them with your child. 4) We are not responsible for external addresses/phone numbers changing without our knowledge. 5) The information and commentary on this site are not substitutes for professional advice from your doctor, lawyer, or mental health professional. 6) Requests for permission to republish, copy and/or distribute any material found on this Web site should be directed to Safer Child, Inc.

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