Posted by CBFalconer on 03/11/07 03:04

Ed Seedhouse wrote:
> <randyhoward@FOOverizonBAR.net> wrote:
>
>> I've had this problem on more than a few occasions with my own kids,
>> where their textbooks have outright falsehoods in them, which of course
>> you can either argue with, and get answers wrong on the test
>
> It's been going on far longer than that of course. Back in the 1950's
> the government approved Grade 10 Science text of the day in British
> Columbia explained the working concept of a two stage rocket
> incorrectly.
>
> Having read Willy Ley's book "Rockets, Missiles & Space Travel" I knew
> better of course, but for some reason my Science teacher didn't buy my
> explanation, thinking that of course the text book must be right. It
> was government approved, after all.

Back when I had read some explanations of DC wound motors, and I
thought a non-PM motor should work on AC, so I asked our Physics
instructor. He said it wouldn't work, but I still had grave
doubts. So I tried it off a 6V heater transformer, and lo, it
worked.

However, he was a good teacher, in that he could put across
concepts. He was a Navy veteran, named Fleming. Teachers don't
have to be encyclopaedias. I learned that the hard way a few years
ago when I tried my hand at teaching, and being accurate. All I
got was blank stares.

--
<http://www.cs.auckland.ac.nz/~pgut001/pubs/vista_cost.txt>
<http://www.securityfocus.com/columnists/423>

"A man who is right every time is not likely to do very much."
-- Francis Crick, co-discover of DNA
"There is nothing more amazing than stupidity in action."
-- Thomas Matthews



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