I think you should use both. It allows for some concrete basics plus real world addition. But why hand it out and make my kid lug it around and me pay for it if we are not using it? And if it sucks, then we should change it like Texas is doing.
But this is one of the problems with the education system today. It's run mostly by money wasters who see their agenda as worth it. Kudos to Texas for creating an atmosphere where the teachers can legally teach both sides.
How long would you last if the parents go together and protested your method? If you are not using the book, then you have no ground to stand on. And that sucks.
You guys know I am a conservative, and for the most part am conservative in my thinking. Having said that...
What this article does NOT mention very clearly is that the REPUBLICAN voters of Texas voted Dr. Moonbat off the Board. He is an extremist in the worst way - so far to the right that he makes very little sense. He has been extremely controversial the whole time he has been on the board. Again, many Republicans like myself hate him and wish he would take his self-righteous ultrastupid agenda somewhere else.
While I am NOT in favor of any discussion of the Battle of San Jacinto or "Remember the Alamo" being painted as some illegal war against the rightful government of Mexico, I am also NOT in favor of extreme religious based themes being introduced in everything from math to langauge to music. The purpose of education is to teach people to think for themselves. Present both sides - or multiple sides, even. This guy, and his cronies on the Board, are going to try and do some serious damage before their terms are up.
I hate one-sided behavior in anything. Maybe it is the negotiator in me, but being told "My way and that is IT" just really pisses me off.
This is why I HATE that being a school board member/Board of Education is a partisan position. You get extremists on both sides and the system suffers for it.