Texas Public Policy Foundation Report Finds Gross Inaccuracies in Science Textbooks for Texas Middle Schools

The following was issued today by the Texas Public Policy Foundation:

Joint Press Conference:

Thursday, September 6, 2001 @ 12:30 p.m.

Texas Education Agency, First Floor Lobby

William B. Travis Building

1801 North Congress Avenue,

Austin, Texas

As the Texas Education Agency and State Board of Education consider the adoption of science textbooks for middle schools, the Texas Public Policy Foundation will release a report examining the accuracy of environmental education in science textbooks. Chris Patterson, Director of Education Research, and Duggan Flanakin, TPPF Senior Fellow and publisher of EI News will release the report at the press conference. They will be joined by representatives from Citizens for a Sound Economy whose members are turning out in force to protest the textbook content.

Problems found with textbooks for grades 6, 7 and 8 include inaccurate facts and omissions of key scientific information. These problems offer compelling reason for the Board to ask publishers for revisions before approving their use in public schools.

Example of inaccuracy follows:

Alleged Annual Rainforest Destruction as Described in Textbooks

PUBLISHER (or other source) DESTRUCTION (ACRES)

Glencoe 75 million

Holt 32 million

Prentice Hall 15 million

NASA 7.5 million

Contact: Jeff Judson, President & CEO

(210) 614-0080 or

Chris Patterson, Director of Education Research

(210) 410-3985

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SOURCE Texas Public Policy Foundation

CONTACT: Jeff Judson, President & CEO, +1-210-614-0080, or Chris Patterson, Director of Education Research, +1-210-410-3985, both of Texas Public Policy Foundation

URL: http://www.prnewswire.com