History textbooks rated: "serviceable to abysmal".

In a review of 12 widely used U.S. and world history textbooks--aimed in part at helping educators in selection--the highest grade assigned to a book was a C+. Too bad this test wasn't graded on a curve.

In the forward to A Consumer's Guide to High School History Textbooks, a project of the Thomas B. Fordham Institute, President Chester E. Finn Jr. notes that the books "range from serviceable to abysmal. None is distinguished or even very good. The best are merely adequate." The books were judged on criteria that emphasized historical accuracy, coherence, balance and writing quality. Overall, "lack of basis" received the lowest average rating among the U.S. history books, and "interest level" got the lowest marks among the world history books.

In light of the reviews, Finn says high school history teachers need to be better prepared so they will depend less on textbooks (the majority of these teachers did not major or minor in the subject).

In addition, he recommends that teachers be given more power in selecting materials. Rather than state or even district-wide adoptions, he suggests that individual schools and teachers be able to select any textbook and supplemental materials that attain state or district academic standards. Teachers should even have the option of making their own "textbooks," using their budgets to collect materials from the Internet, television or a variety of publications, Finn says.

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