Spokane school board approves new AP history textbook
The Spokane Public Schools board adopted a new AP U.S. history textbook Wednesday night.
The district’s textbook adoption committee reviewed and recommended the book, “America’s History.” The committee was comprised of five teachers and a social studies curriculum coordinator.
The text, which is 1,168 pages, covers indigenous American cultures to the present. The committee's one complaint with the text was its "girth and heft." Each text costs $140.50 and the district plans to buy 400 copies.
Although the text was adopted unanimously by the board, director Bob Douthitt asked if the text can be "reasonably taught" in 180 days. AP history teachers present at the meeting said that in general the amount of material they are expected to cover is "ridiculous," however they still recommended the text.
The books will be purchased with money from last year's budget. The book will be purchased immediately and used in the 2015-16 school year.
