Truth In Textbooks — Ensuring Truth in Textbooks



Truth in California Textbook ReviewMcGraw Hill, Grade 6 Impact World History & Geography, Ancient Civilizations, Student Edition & Inquiry Journal, and Impact California Social Studies Weekly Explorer Magazine, 2019Problem: Omission of Fact (OF), Half-Truth (HT), Factual Error (FE), Slant (S), Bias (B), Incorrect Terminology (IT)LocationQuoteProblemFact & SourceChapter 4, Lesson 1, page 118, top of page, “The Ten Commandments” box“Do not want anything that belongs to someone else”OF“You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.” Exodus 20:17, NIVThe paraphrase greatly dilutes the meaning of this commandment. It is not necessarily bad to want something someone else has, for we can merely purchase or earn our own; the key point is that we are not to be jealous or envious of that something else to the point of greed.Last couple of sentences of Lesson 2 just before the questions, p. 129Include here “The goal of a just society is true for Christianity and Islam” statement HT, OF, BThe ultimate goal of Islam is world domination, not a “just society.”See: : 4, Lesson 4, p. 95, Inquiry JournalReference to passage “-From the Hebrew Bible, 1 Maccabees…”OF, IT“The books of 1 and 2 Maccabees are early Jewish writings detailing the history of the Jews in the first century BC. They are not a part of the Hebrew Bible (Tanach). First and Second Maccabees were included in the Septuagint, the Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible originally prepared for the Jewish community of Alexandria. First and Second Maccabees were included in the Septuagint, the Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible originally prepared for the Jewish community of Alexandria. However, the Septuagint became the official version of the Bible for the nascent Christian Church. The Septuagint became the official version of the Bible for the nascent Christian Church. Both books are also a part of the canon of Scripture in the Greek Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Coptic, and Russian Orthodox churches.”’s Toolkit, HT11, Heading “4. Movement”, 2nd paragraph, 7th sentence, 7th lineThe Germanic Invasions led to the fall of the Roman Empire.HT, OFThe Roman Empire consisted of a Western half and an Eastern half. The Eastern half continued until its defeat by the Ottomans in 1453.“The Eastern Empire stood for nearly a millennium after 476, nearly as long again as classical Rome itself.” Reviewer recommends that the sentence be changed to the following: “The Germanic Invasions lead to the fall of Rome.”Historian’s Toolkit, HT30, 3rd paragraph, 1st sentenceCitizens should respect the rights and views of other people.B, SWhilst encouraging students to respect the rights and views of other people, students should also be aware that due to immigration, certain views have entered the country that are contrary to the values of the dominant culture in the US.The Reviewer suggests the following be added: Personal rights such as freedom of speech and freedom of religion should exist for everyone, however personal rights do not extend to the right to harm others. Some examples of this would be practices such as FGM, honor killing, and child marriage that take place in some communities because of their belief system.A recent FGM case: ’s Toolkit, HT30, Heading “Being a Global Citizen”, 1st paragraph, 5th sentence, 5th lineIn addition, the idea growing around the world that all people should have basic human rights.B, SThis sentence suggests that it is possible to have a global consensus on what constitutes basic human rights.Human rights are defined differently in different cultures.“These cultural differences, to the extent that they are real, have practical implications. Many in developing countries argue that some human rights are simply not relevant to their societies—the right, for instance, to political pluralism, the right to paid vacations (always good for a laugh in the sweatshops of the Third World), and, inevitably, the rights of women. It is not just that some societies claim they are simply unable to provide certain rights to all their citizens, but rather that they see the "universal" conception of human rights as little more than an attempt to impose alien Western values on them.” Tharoor: Are Human Rights Universal? - World Policy Journal - World Policy Institute. ARTICLE: Volume XVI, No4, WINTER 1999/2000 reviewer recommends that this sentence be removed.Historian’s Toolkit, HT30, Heading: Being a Global Citizen, 2nd paragraph, 2nd sentence, 2nd, 3rd lineIt means taking care of the environment.B, SThis sentence suggests that the activity of any individual has significant impact on the environment.Climate changes for reasons we don’t fully understand.The latest warming trend began 100 years before there were CO2 emissions from burning fossil fuel. There has been no significant warming since the start of the 21st century.For most of the history of life on earth CO2 has been present in the atmosphere at much higher levels than it is today. We are currently in a low CO2 era. The optimal CO2 level for plant growth is 4 to 5 times the level that is currently in our atmosphere.Source: Prager U: What They Haven’t Told You About Climate Change Reviewer suggests the sentence be removed. Chapter 7, Ancient India, page 261, heading: Origins of Hinduism, 1st paragraph, 1st sentenceHinduism is one of the world’s oldest religions.FE, OF, HTThis sentence should be changed to: “Hinduism is the world’s oldest religion still being practiced today”.Chapter 7, Ancient India, page 261, heading: Origins of Hinduism, 1st paragraph, 2nd sentenceIt is also the third largest religion, after Christianity and Islam.FE, OF, HTStudents need to know that Hinduism and Christianity are religions only, whereas Islam is a total system of life that has its own model of society that is very different to western society.Students need to know that religion is just one aspect of Islam.“Islam is a complete way of life to follow. It speaks to our intellect, emotions, senses, and spirit.”What Islam is All About, Yahiya Emerick, page 61, 2nd paragraph. Date of publication: July 2014.Chapter 10, Roman Civilization, page 375, bottom of page photo of Hagia SophiaDepicts Hagia Sophia as it is today (a mosque).B, S, FEThe Hagia Sophia should be depicted as the church it was originally.There are some images online of the Hagia Sophia when it was a church: Reviewer suggests that this image be used instead.Chapter 10, Roman Civilization, page 375, 1st caption above and to the right of the photo of Hagia SophiaThe modern city of Istanbul was known as Byzantium during the last days of the Western Roman Empire.B, SIt was more than 1,000 years before Constantinople became Istanbul and for this reason, the Reviewer recommends the there be no mention of Istanbul. The reviewer recommends the caption should read as follows: “Emperor Constantine moved the capital of the Roman Empire from Rome to the city of Byzantium, and he renamed the city to Constantinople.”Chapter 10, Roman Civilization, page 375, 2nd caption above and to the right of the photo of Hagia SophiaINTEGRATING VISUAL INFORMATION. What architectural features do you notice in this image of Istanbul (formerly called Byzantium and Constantinople)?B, SThe Reviewer recommends this caption be removed.Chapter 10, Roman Civilization, page 378, heading: Rome’s Influence on Law and Government, 2nd paragraph, 3rd sentence, 3rd and 4th linesThe United States and a number of other countries today are democratic republics.FEThe United States is a Constitutional Republic. Though we have a representative form of government, it’s not a democratic republic.“The key difference between a democracy and a republic lies in the limits placed on government by the law, which has implications on minority rights. Both forms of government use a representational system where citizens vote to elect politicians to represent their interests and form the government. However, in a republic, a constitution or charter of rights protects certain inalienable rights that cannot be taken away by the government, even if it has been elected by a majority of voters. In a pure democracy, the majority is not restrained and can impose its will on the minority.”Democracy or Republic, Which is it? By Benedict D. LaRosa.Source: Chapter 10, Roman Civilization, page 383, heading: The New Rome, 2nd paragraphA variety of peoples lived within the empire’s borders. Greeks made up the largest population. Egyptians, Syrians, Arabs Armenians, Jews, Persians, Slavs, and Turks also lives in the Byzantine Empire. Under Emperor Justinian, who ruled from 527 C.E. until 565 C.E., the laws improved, the arts flourished, and the empire grew dramatically.B, SThis paragraph is associating the diversity of ethnicities within the Byzantine Empire with its success. The message is pro-multicultural.The sentence beginning “Under Emperor Justinian,…” follows on immediately from the sentence describing the variety of different people that lived within the empire’s borders. The positioning of this sentence implies that it had something to do with all the different ethnic groups.The Reviewer recommends the following sentence be removed: “Under Emperor Justinian, who ruled from 527 C.E. until 565 C.E., the laws improved, the arts flourished, and the empire grew dramatically.” Chapter 10, Roman Civilization, page 383, heading: Constantinople, 1st paragraphConstantine moved the capital of the Roman Empire from Rome to the Greek city of Byzantium and renamed the city Constantinople around 330 C.E. The new capital thrived. By the 500s C.E., multicultural Constantinople had become one of the world’s most advanced cities.B, SThe Reviewer has found no evidence that Constantinople was multicultural. It was multi-ethnic, but its inhabitants identified as Romans. Multiculturalism involves different cultures living side by side, with no one culture being more important than the other. Multiculturalism does not encourage assimilation into the dominant culture. This can lead to a lack of cohesion in a society.“That acknowledgement can take the forms of recognition of contributions to the cultural life of the political community as a whole, a demand for special protection under the law for certain cultural groups, or?autonomous rights of?governance for certain cultures. Multiculturalism is both a response to the fact of?cultural?pluralism in modern?democracies and a way of compensating cultural groups for past exclusion,?discrimination and oppression. Most modern democracies comprise?members with?diverse cultural viewpoints, practices, and contributions. Many minority cultural groups have experienced exclusion or the denigration of their contributions and identities in the past. Multiculturalism seeks the inclusion of the views and contributions of diverse members of society while maintaining respect for their differences and withholding the demand for their assimilation into the dominant culture.”Multi-culturism Sociology, Jennifer L Eagen“Many people think multiculturalism just means showing respect and tolerance to other cultures and faiths. If that were so, it should be unarguable. We should all support respect and tolerance. But that’s not what multiculturalism is at all. It holds that all minority values must have equal status to those of the majority. Any attempt to uphold majority values over minorities is a form of prejudice. That turns minorities into a cultural battering ram to destroy the very idea of being a majority culture at all. And so, since no culture can assert itself over any other, liberalism cannot assert itself as a dominant cultural force. Instead society must fragment into a kaleidoscope of equal — and opposing —values, and liberal values must give way to their opposite.”Liberalism vs Islamism, Melanie Phillips, June 2007’s success was more likely due to its location, strong fortification of the city (Theodosian Walls), superior weaponry, and close proximity to invaders.This paragraph suggests that Constantinople’s success was due to its multiculturalism.The reviewer recommends the word “multicultural” be replaced with “multi-ethnic”.Chapter 11, The Rise of Christianity, page 417, heading: The Great Split, 2nd paragraph, 2nd sentenceIn the late 700s C.E., Italy was invaded.OFThere is no mention of who invaded.Students need to know that Islamic invasions in Italy took place (as well as elsewhere in Europe) in Sicily commencing in 652.Bill Warner’s Dynamic Battle Map Religions, Islam, page 463, 4th sentence, 4th lineEventually the religion spread through much of Asia, including parts of India to the border of China, and much of Africa.OFStudents need to know that commencing in 632 C.E., Islam spread rapidly by way of violent conquest.“Few events of history are so well documented and attested to as are these conquests, which commenced soon after the death of the Muslim prophet Muhammad (632) and tapered off circa 750. Large swathes of the Old World—from the India in the east, to Spain in the west—were conquered and consolidated by the sword of Islam during this time, with more after (e.g., the Ottoman conquests).”The Historical Reality of the Muslim Conquests, Raymond Ibrahim, 03/01/2012 World Religions, Islam, page 463, 5th sentence, 6th, 7th, 8th lineAccording to Muslims, the Quran, their holy book, contains the direct word of God, revealed to their Prophet Muhammad.OFThe Quran is not the only holy book. The way it is described in this sentence, a student could draw the conclusion that it was the equivalent of the Christian Bible.The Quran is part of a trilogy of holy books. In addition to the Quran, there is the Sira (the life of Muhammad) and the Hadiths, (a collection of traditions of Muhammad). Devout Muslims live their lives according to the example of Muhammad’s life and his traditions.“Over 90 verses of the Koran say that Mohammed is the perfect life pattern for all Muslims. Mohammed is the perfect Muslim and all Muslims are to pattern their life after his. He is the perfect father, husband, judge, leader, warrior, businessman and politician. His life example, what he said or did, is called the Sunna of Mohammed. “Political Islam, A Totalitarian Doctrine, Bill Warner, April 4, 2017 reviewer recommends “their holy book” be removed from the identified sentence.The Reviewer recommends the following be added after the identified sentence: The Quran is part of a trilogy of holy books in Islam. In addition to the Quran there is the Sira (the life of Muhammad) and the Hadiths, (a collection of traditions of Muhammad). Devout Muslims live their lives according to the example of Muhammad’s life and his traditions.World Religions, Islam, page 463, heading Sacred Text, 1st paragraph, 1st, 2nd sentenceThe Quran instructs Muslims about how they should live and treat others. The Quran also contains rules that affects Muslims daily lives.OF, FEThe Sunna which consists of Muhammad’s life example and his sayings and traditions as written down in the Hadiths is what dictates how Muslims should be behave (see example above).Explorer Magazine, Ancient India, page 67, question 1st leftWhat does the high quality housing for both the rich and the poor in ancient Indus River cities like Harrapa suggest about that societies values?B, SThe Reviewer doesn’t see anything in the description of the housing (page 63) to suggest housing for the poor was high quality.The Reviewer recommends this question be removed.Explorer Magazine, Chapter 9, Rome: Republic to Empire, page 81, heading: Amendment Process, 1st and 2nd sentenceLike the U.S. Constitution, the Twelve Tables had an amendment process. It was a living document that could change as the people’s needs changed.FE, B, SThe authors’ claim that the Constitution is a living document has been presented as a fact.The Constitution is a legal document. It provides the framework for our constitutional republic.“The Constitution is supposed to be a rock-solid foundation, the embodiment of our most fundamental principles-that's the whole idea of having a constitution. Public opinion may blow this way and that, but our basic principles-our constitutional principles-must remain constant.”U. Chicago Law School “The Living Constitution”, David Strauss“So a living Constitution becomes not the Constitution at all; in fact it is not even law any more. It is just some gauzy ideas that appeal to the judges who happen to be in power at a particular time and that they impose on the rest of us.” U. Chicago Law School “The Living Constitution”, David Strauss reviewer recommends that the sentence “it was a living document that could change as the people’s needs changed.” be removed.Explorer Magazine, Chapter 9, Roman Civilization, heading: Byantine Art and Architecture, photo bottom left hand sideThe Hagia Sophia is shown as a mosque.B, SThe conversion of the Hagia Sophia from a church to a mosque took place in 1453.The Reviewer suggests this photograph be replaced with a diagram of the Hagia Sophia when it was a church: Magazine, Chapter 9, Roman Civilization, heading: Byantine Art and Architecture, caption below photo bottom left hand sideStanding in Istanbul, Turkey, the Hagia Sophia is an amazing example of Byzantine architecture.B, SThe Reviewer suggests that the following words be removed from the sentence: “Standing in Istanbul, Turkey,”Explorer Magazine, Chapter 9, Roman Civilization, heading: Byantine Art and Architecture, 2nd paragraph, 4th sentence5th and 6th lineThe Hagia Sophia has served as both a Christian church and a Muslim mosque.OFStudents need to know that the Hagia Sophia was converted to a mosque after Constantinople’s defeat due to violent conquest by Ottoman Turkish Muslims in 1453.“In its long history of conquest, Islam has habitually converted the sacred shrines of its enemies into mosques and madrasas. A cursory look at the world's most famous mosques lays bare the fact that many were former houses of worships of defeated enemies.Islam's most sacred site, al-Kaaba, in Mecca was a pagan shrine that predated Islam by hundreds of years. Mohammed himself, after his army's conquest of Mecca in 630, destroyed hundreds of idols, proclaiming the truth of his new religion, and, since, it has become the hub of the annual Muslim pilgrimage, hajj, and a core pillar of Islam. Following the Muslim conquest of Jerusalem, the Ummayad Caliphate proceeded to build the Dome of the Rock, the Masjid Qubat al-Sakhra, on top of the Jewish Temple Mount in 689.Building Mosques on Sacred Sites of Defeated Enemies a Symbol of Conquest, Gabriel Scheinmann, August 23, 2010 of Social Studies Skills and other important issuesAn evaluation of the teaching & learning devices and/or materials provided to the student.NumberQuestionsYesNo1Is the appropriate vocabulary relevant to the subject matter presented to students?For example, on comparative government are terms such as monarchy, oligarchy, democracy, socialism, fascism, and communism presented?x2Are the captions under pictures factual?3Are the charts and graphs relevant to the topic being presented?4Are the maps accurate and relevant to the topic?x5Are questions thought provoking? Is adequate accurate material provided so that the students can formulate appropriate answers?6Are primary and secondary sources presented for students to examine (for bias, propaganda, point of view, and frame of reference)?x7Does the text present a lesson on how to evaluate the validity of a source based on language, corroboration with other sources, and information about the author?8Does the textbook have a Glossary? Are key terms and personalities included and defined?x9Does the textbook have accurate timelines to help the student understand chronological historical developments?x10Does the textbook have an Index which includes all of the key words, historical time periods and individuals?x11Does the textbook devote a similar number of pages to each of the world religions, philosophies, political and religious leaders?xCommendations: Aside from the corrections recommended above, the reviewers think chapters 1 – 12 of this textbook are fair, accurate, and balanced.Concerns: In Chapter 4, the King James Version of the Bible is used for the passages given therein. We suggest using the NIV version for easier reading and comprehension.Evaluations based on templateChoicesExplanationsYesNo1This text has minor changes that need to be made2This text has a moderate number of changesx3This text has substantial changes that need to be made4This book is so flawed that it is not recommended for adoption. ................
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