Errors abound Sacramento math books

SACRAMENTO, April 1 (UPI) -- People in the Sacramento area might be pardoned for asking if the folks who publish their schools' error-filled math books are smarter than a fifth-grader.

The Sacramento Bee reported Thursday the new Macmillan/McGraw-Hill math books distributed to second-graders at 79 city-area elementary schools in the Sacramento City and Folsom Cordova districts include the equation: five times three equals five.

It's not an isolated faux pas, either. Folsom Cordova District Assistant Superintendent Janie DeArcos says fourth-graders have found 90 mistakes in their textbook and related materials, the newspaper said.

State officials say the publisher is responsible for correcting errors, though school districts must negotiate any resolution, the Bee said.

So far, the publisher has replaced student workbooks and posted corrections in teacher materials online. Macmillan/McGraw-Hill representatives visited the area two weeks ago to discuss the situation and the company has said a proposal to resolve the issues is now two weeks away, district officials said.

"Our goal is to create reliable, quality programs that are engaging and effective for students and teachers, and we have heard from the districts that students are doing well using our math program," company spokeswoman Mary Skafidas told the Bee in an e-mailed statement. "We take this issue very seriously and are working with the districts to rectify the situation."