Textbook truth

Virginia's Department of Education is proposing guidelines for local school divisions to use in reviewing textbooks that aren't authorized by the state. The guidelines are modeled after the state's recently revised textbook-review procedures.

Charles Pyle, communications director for the VDOE, said responsibility for the accuracy of the books' content ultimately rests with publishers. If local districts choose to adopt the guidelines, publishers must submit a signed statement that books have been reviewed by experts with advanced degrees in that field of study.

He said the VDOE had decided to put responsibility on publishers to avoid adding to the current budget, rather than hiring content experts to verify the books at the government level.

"A fourth grade teacher is a fourth grade teacher. She's not necessarily an expert in Virginian or American History, or at least equivalent to a professor at the University of Virginia," Pyle said.

The state revised its review process after two fourth- and fifth-grade history textbooks revealed significant errors. The books by Five Ponds Press were subsequently removed from the state's approved-textbook list.

The author of Virginia's recalled textbook, Joy Masoff-- not a trained historian -- said Internet articles by Sons of Confederate Veterans convinced her to write that "thousands" of black Confederate soldiers fought in the Civil War. Masoff's textbooks contained other errors as well, including the wrong date for America's entrance into World War I (1916 instead of 1917).

Five Ponds books are often less expensive than those from larger publishers, which is appealing to cost-conscious school districts. For example, on the state-approved list for kindergarten history curriculum, the Five Ponds book costs only $31.50. The closest second, from McGraw-Hill, costs $130.44.

Four of Masoff's books, though not the ones with errors, are still on the state's approved textbook list. But publishers are required to give the state a signed statement saying that qualified scholars have checked the books for accuracy and that they'll take all financial responsibility for errors.

Pyle emphasized that the local guidelines would not be legally binding, and that it's ultimately up to local school boards to decide how to vet potential curriculum as long as they follow existing laws.

"What the board is saying to local school divisions is that this would be a good thing for you all to do as well," Pyle said.

The board is accepting public comment on the proposed guidelines until Aug. 1.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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