Note that this isn't _necessarily_ a bad thing. Lowest common denominator textbooks are bad if you would have got a better text book, but good if you would have got a worse one. For example, this process does protect against creation science making it into widely distributed textbooks.
I understand that supporting a system like this means students are unlikely to get the best possible text books, but I think there is a fair argument that a risk-avoidance strategy may be better in this area than to aim for the optimum (and end up with a much broader range of results).
Good point. I agree with your take on the trade offs, but it then becomes a matter of deciding how good or bad things really are. Since this applies beyond textbooks to the wider issue of school choice, I'll say 'school' below but 'textbook' holds similarly.
I think in the current system the vast majority of students get a raw deal in the form of mediocrity. Most large public schools I've seen are the educational equivalent to a Dilbertesque corporation. We adults have many ways to dodge cubicle land, but the kids don't. That's a tragedy.
Independent schools would be better to a sizable portion of the kids and about the same for the rest. It's true that we would find faults in each other's schools (school X is godless, school Y teaches creationism), but I think that: 1) it's a fair choice for parents to make, and 2) the current schools have a limited role in that type of outcome anyway.
I understand there are drawbacks and that this is a minority view which voters find unpalatable. But after visiting several public schools in the US and in Brazil and thinking endlessly about the topic, it's the conclusion I've reached.
(I apologize if this sort of political discussion is discouraged here on HN, I started posting recently and am learning the ropes.)
I understand that supporting a system like this means students are unlikely to get the best possible text books, but I think there is a fair argument that a risk-avoidance strategy may be better in this area than to aim for the optimum (and end up with a much broader range of results).