Reminds me of the time that a teacher taught our class that a yard = 4 feet. I believed that for most of middle school, somehow.

I am having my daughter learn what is correct. If there is a problem, I will deal with it. First of all, this is elementary school, so grades are not a big deal. Secondly, I will fight it. And I will have many researchers on my side.

I suspect the problem is local to the school (a top ranked AAP center), based on discussions with parents from other schools and the central office.

Me thinks having 5 / 6 new teachers (to the school) in 5th grade is a problem.

I'd be hesitant to tell you daughter the right answers as teachers are teaching to the test (former history teacher here). We were given a binder with teaching points that could be on the SOL. Make sure the kids know that info and they will pass. Anything else you want to throw in is fine, but make sure to cover the teaching points first.

I would still pursue the inaccuracies you found with the DOE. As a side, some teachers I used to work with were on a board one summer to help develop the curriculum. Also on the board were college professors. So the curriculum may be wrong, but you need to find out why.

As another a side, some of the college professors commented that college freshmen were in need of remedial history courses. Obviously the system is not doing a good enough job in some respects.

Not recorded, but there ave been ones smaller than 1.0

Anonymous wrote:OP Here. It appears the problem is at the school or teacher level. I do not know. It may be from enrichment curriculum that is used in AAP.

I have been missing sleep wooried sick about this; imagine tyeaching the richter scale goes higher than 10. This is just awful.
BTW has there ever been an earthquake higher thaqn 10?

OP Here. It appears the problem is at the school or teacher level. I do not know. It may be from enrichment curriculum that is used in AAP.

You just need to look online and go to the department of curriculum and instruction. Email the science department. They will tell you if the wording comes directly from the state or not and they will address all your concerns. They are very receptive and helpful.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Earthquakes only occur on transform boundaries (tell that to Sumatra and Japan); the Richter scale has a ronge from 1-10;

Holy sh*t. Even with a pretty out of date geology degree I can spot the transform boundary info as a pretty glaring error, and not at the margins either. (The Richter scale item, while wrong, doesn't bother me *quite* as much since it's at least semi accurate for expected terrestrial quakes.)

As a fellow citizen, PLEASE follow up on this. Because it's not just your kid who needs a decent science education. And we ALL need an educated populace.

Yes, please follow up on this. It needs to be changed.

Change what? I'm telling you, it is already in the science curriculum. Maybe that one teacher isn't including it, or is using incorrect material, but we do teach the changes you are seeking. You can review the science POS.

If that one teacher isn't including it, it needs to be changed. If incorrect material is being used, it needs to be changed. Unless OP follows up to find out why his DD is being taught earthquakes only occur on transform boundaries and the Richter scale only goes up to 10. That needs to be changed. Clear enough for you?

Yes, it was. It is not, however, the curriculum that needs to be changed. As i said before, the curriculum is ok, it is not being presented correctly.

Do pursue it. Squawk loudly!

Year before last, Virginia issued a history textbook, "Our Virginia," to fourth graders. This textbook quickly got big coverage in the Washington Post and on TV for its huge, glaring errors (worst one: Statement that there were "thousands" of black Confederate soldiers) and VA ended up pulling it from classrooms; students used an updated online version of "Our Virginia" for the rest of the school year. Turned out that VA did NOT have a subject matter expert (Virginia history) on its board that supposedly reviews textbooks. So do not lie down and take it if you see errors -- pursue it. Or more "Our Virginias" and their ilk will end up in VA students' hands. Clearly VA does not give textbooks, or other curriculum, the attention needed.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/10/19/AR2010101907974.html
This article is early in the debate. Later on, VA pulled the book out of classrooms altogether -- at least, FCPS did. Maybe it remained in use in some areas (sadly).

VA supposedly was going to revamp its approval procedures for materials after this debacle.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Earthquakes only occur on transform boundaries (tell that to Sumatra and Japan); the Richter scale has a ronge from 1-10;

Holy sh*t. Even with a pretty out of date geology degree I can spot the transform boundary info as a pretty glaring error, and not at the margins either. (The Richter scale item, while wrong, doesn't bother me *quite* as much since it's at least semi accurate for expected terrestrial quakes.)

As a fellow citizen, PLEASE follow up on this. Because it's not just your kid who needs a decent science education. And we ALL need an educated populace.

Yes, please follow up on this. It needs to be changed.

Change what? I'm telling you, it is already in the science curriculum. Maybe that one teacher isn't including it, or is using incorrect material, but we do teach the changes you are seeking. You can review the science POS.

If that one teacher isn't including it, it needs to be changed. If incorrect material is being used, it needs to be changed. Unless OP follows up to find out why his DD is being taught earthquakes only occur on transform boundaries and the Richter scale only goes up to 10. That needs to be changed. Clear enough for you?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Earthquakes only occur on transform boundaries (tell that to Sumatra and Japan); the Richter scale has a ronge from 1-10;

Holy sh*t. Even with a pretty out of date geology degree I can spot the transform boundary info as a pretty glaring error, and not at the margins either. (The Richter scale item, while wrong, doesn't bother me *quite* as much since it's at least semi accurate for expected terrestrial quakes.)

As a fellow citizen, PLEASE follow up on this. Because it's not just your kid who needs a decent science education. And we ALL need an educated populace.

Yes, please follow up on this. It needs to be changed.

Change what? I'm telling you, it is already in the science curriculum. Maybe that one teacher isn't including it, or is using incorrect material, but we do teach the changes you are seeking. You can review the science POS.

I hope it is only my DD's teacher, on only her school. For two reasons: 1) most of the county will not be impacted, and 2) the problems are easier to fix locally.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Earthquakes only occur on transform boundaries (tell that to Sumatra and Japan); the Richter scale has a ronge from 1-10;

Holy sh*t. Even with a pretty out of date geology degree I can spot the transform boundary info as a pretty glaring error, and not at the margins either. (The Richter scale item, while wrong, doesn't bother me *quite* as much since it's at least semi accurate for expected terrestrial quakes.)

As a fellow citizen, PLEASE follow up on this. Because it's not just your kid who needs a decent science education. And we ALL need an educated populace.

Yes, please follow up on this. It needs to be changed.

Change what? I'm telling you, it is already in the science curriculum. Maybe that one teacher isn't including it, or is using incorrect material, but we do teach the changes you are seeking. You can review the science POS.

^ the kicker is that that grade level is supposed to learn proper apostrophe usage this year. Oy.