TurboDog, the textbook adoption process here in California is complicated. It is disproportionately affected by special interest groups, heavily politicized and worth big, big bucks to publishers. The textbooks adopted by California are automatically adopted by over 20 other states, I believe, so publishers try very hard to win these contracts. I've heard tales of kickbacks and other corruptions among elected officials and gov't employees.
What we're left with in the classroom are books filled with fluff about the roles of women and minority groups in American history, lots of politically correct language, and a sterile listing of bland chronological facts. It is fact that the history of the US was dominated by "dead white men", but the books seem to be getting away from that. There is also little or no romance for bygone eras, no emotional appeal given to the great figures in American history. Everyone knows education in America used to be better, why don't we go back to doing what was done before?
IMO, the proper goal of high school education (for most students) is as much about socialization as it is education. We should leave all that "question authority" stuff for the kids that go on to college.
Now, if only the makers of "The Simpsons" could create a collection of history videos...
