Textbooks for K-12 astronomy

I report on American textbooks for kindergarten through high-school grades. Middle school, up through approximate age 15, is the last time American students are required to take science, and I provide statistics on the narrowing of the funnel containing those taking physics. I describe some recent curriculum and standards projects. and discuss the recent "less is more" trend. I conclude with comments on whether textbooks are necessary and useful, and discuss possible content and style of an ideal textbook. Astronomy is orphaned in many American schools, though it can find its way into classes through earth science or physical science courses or textbooks. We can hope that the students will wind up with better astronomical knowledge than Harry Potter, who "completed the constellation Orion on his chart" in June from his own telescopic observations during his practical astronomy exam in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (Rowling, 2003; Pasachoff, 2003a). an observation that can never have been made