Textbooks...not the answer the everything

"If the textbook contains the answers, then what are the questions?" Wiggins & McTighe (p. 125)

When considering textbooks and their validity, I do not think they contain all the answers. I do not even think they contain all of the right answers. Textbooks can be biased and information portrayed in them can be inaccurate. Therefore perhaps according to the makers own agenda it can contain the right answers to the questions they asked. As far as teaching students solely from the textbook, which I do not recommend, the questions within the textbook may have the answers within. Does this mean that students are learning from them?.....No it does not. I really do not think that students answering these questions teaching anyone, anything.

As we have been learning about Backwards Design in planning for Social Studies lessons, I think that what is more valid is asking questions based on your goals for the students learning. Creating Essential questions and preparing questions to get students thinking about them will result in more than just using a textbook. Students need to learn to think analytically and explore their own learning. If a textbook 'contains' all the answers, then why should students think for themselves? They not provide all the questions students should be asking themselves, but they can possible be a good supplement to lessons. (sometimes) More often than textbooks being used students should learn to do their own research, ask their own questions, and find answers to questions in this manner.
We want our children to think for themselves and learn throughout all situations not just sitting down and reading a textbook.