Minister of Education insists on developing public school textbooks

[Dolores]

Hoy newspaper carries a letter in which Education Minister Angel Hernandez defends the Ministry of Education’s decision to publish textbooks for the public school students. The Ministry, over the years has been affected by major book scams, many of which were inherited from the previous incumbent. Now the Ministry wants to leave only the printing to the private sector.

Education Minister Angel Hernandez defends that by controlling the editorial process, the Ministry will ensure quality. Billions in savings are also intended.

In a letter to the executive director of Hoy newspaper, Bienvenido Álvarez Vega, Hernandez makes the point that of 21 countries in Ibero America, only four buy textbooks in the open market. They are Spain, Portugal, Mexico and Argentina. Hernandez writes that in the others, the Ministry of Education elaborates and edits them, leaving only the printing...

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[Kipling333]

Along the lines of Chairman Mao ..I have trouble believing that this is a step in the right direction.

 

[Auryn]

Textbooks are increasingly being phased out of classrooms in the developed world. Access to tech, printing costs, and the fact they go obsolete so quickly are the main reasons.

But hey, every Dominican child has a device so they can access their textbooks online and reduce costs.

Textbooks are a way to launder money.

It’s intentional and calculated.

 

[LindseyKaufman]

Textbooks are increasingly being phased out of classrooms in the developed world. Access to tech, printing costs, and the fact they go obsolete so quickly are the main reasons.

But hey, every Dominican child has a device so they can access their textbooks online and reduce costs.

Textbooks are a way to launder money.

It’s intentional and calculated.

But without textbooks, there is little education. Most teachers I have encountered have little knowledge how to go about their profession.

 

[Kipling333]

I agree with you , Auryn .It seems that Covid restrictions accelerated the move away from school books but my concern was the fact that a government department instead of acknowledged authors would be the source ,whether in printed form or online and that reeks of a situation as is found in China where children are indoctrinated with government propaganda at an early age.

 

[playacaribe2]

I agree with you , Auryn .It seems that Covid restrictions accelerated the move away from school books but my concern was the fact that a government department instead of acknowledged authors would be the source ,whether in printed form or online and that reeks of a situation as is found in China where children are indoctrinated with government propaganda at an early age.

To your point, if you read closely the other thread involving the warehoused books and supplies, the government alludes to the fact that those warehoused books were also written with a bias, likely toward the political party under whose watch they were written.

Respectfully,
Playacaribe2

 

[Kipling333]

No, only the foreward to the books . But my remarks relate to any political party anywhere.

 

[playacaribe2]

No, only the foreward to the books . But my remarks relate to any political party anywhere.

Understood. But bias is bias whether in the foreword or the text itself, wherever found in the world.

Respectfully,
Playacaribe2

 

[Auryn]

When I said obsolete, I wasn’t referring to bias. Although that’s definitely a part of it.

The main problem is that they can’t be updated to include new factual information.

That being said, I remember learning from this smallish social studies book probably published in the 70s or at least before I was born. It was about a group of people living on an island and went through the development of their trade, political, and economic system. It had open ended questions and would still have some merit 50 years later.

So when they’re done right and not used as a means to steal funds, they’re priceless. I would still use parts of that old book if I were teaching social studies.

 

[playacaribe2]

When I said obsolete, I wasn’t referring to bias. Although that’s definitely a part of it.

The main problem is that they can’t be updated to include new factual information.

That being said, I remember learning from this smallish social studies book probably published in the 70s or at least before I was born. It was about a group of people living on an island and went through the development of their trade, political, and economic system. It had open ended questions and would still have some merit 50 years later.

So when they’re done right and not used as a means to steal funds, they’re priceless. I would still use parts of that old book if I were teaching social studies.

Your book sounds like "Lord of the Flies."

Respectfully,
Playacaribe2

 

[NanSanPedro]

Textbooks are increasingly being phased out of classrooms in the developed world. Access to tech, printing costs, and the fact they go obsolete so quickly are the main reasons.

But hey, every Dominican child has a device so they can access their textbooks online and reduce costs.

Textbooks are a way to launder money.

It’s intentional and calculated.

I haven't been inside a formal school for over 35 years. What does it look like now without textbooks?

 

[LindseyKaufman]

I haven't been inside a formal school for over 35 years. What does it look like now without textbooks?

desks in rows. chalk board. lots of writing on the chalk board. bored students copying for hours. teacher sitting at his/her desk looking at social media.

My classic story of education here. We were tutoring reading to children who could not read a single word. I went into the classroom to call another student for tutoring. About 40 names of animals were written on the chalk board. The science lesson for the day. The children were to copy all the words and memorize them. These were the same children we were teaching how to read. Meanwhile the teacher sat at her desk looking at her phone.

 

[Auryn]

I haven't been inside a formal school for over 35 years. What does it look like now without textbooks?

For the haves- textbooks are online with aligned videos, quizzes, and interactive labs/games. Scores and areas of concern get sent to the teacher as soon as students finish.

They’re organized the same way, with each chapter being a separate link. Teachers can send students the link to the textbook, or project it for the class, or cast it to a big screen tv. VR is also used in many classrooms.

There are cool Math programs that give an assessment test to place kids at their level, which then provide practice lessons and quizzes that build required progressive skills. The teacher can see the student progress and attempts in real time.

Whether we like it or not, it’s what the future will be.

For the have nots- various degrees of what Lindsey describes unfortunately.

 

[Auryn]

Your book sounds like "Lord of the Flies."

Respectfully,
Playacaribe2

Life on Paradise Island: Economic Life on an Imaginary Island by William Harmon Wilson.

It teaches the progression of free market economics. Originally published in 1970.

 

[bob saunders]

desks in rows. chalk board. lots of writing on the chalk board. bored students copying for hours. teacher sitting at his/her desk looking at social media.

My classic story of education here. We were tutoring reading to children who could not read a single word. I went into the classroom to call another student for tutoring. About 40 names of animals were written on the chalk board. The science lesson for the day. The children were to copy all the words and memorize them. These were the same children we were teaching how to read. Meanwhile the teacher sat at her desk looking at her phone.

My wife makes all the teachers put their phones in the office. They are allowed them at breaktime or if they have to contact a parent. Yes, the copying off the black board is annoying and serves no useful purpose.

 

[playacaribe2]

Life on Paradise Island: Economic Life on an Imaginary Island by William Harmon Wilson.

It teaches the progression of free market economics. Originally published in 1970.

Thank You for this reference.

I have ordered a copy for a young Dominican that I have been mentoring. Fortunately he reads and understands English, and likes all things economy/financial related.

Respectfully,
Playacaribe2