Thomas Dalton wrote:
Wikipedia is generally better referenced that most primary school textbooks I've seen. Presumably Wikipedia won't replace textbooks, children will, instead, be learning from multiple sources and being taught how to judge their reliability.
Yes, at its best, Wikipedia is better referenced. But the rest of the Wikipedia promotional comparison does not follow.
Children's textbooks are not without referencing because evil educationalists want to suppress other views, thus giving wikipedia a new mission of liberating oppression. Children's textbooks are basic, because that's where Children start. There are libraries - free to Children - full of well referenced books.
However. 1) Most of Wikipedia is NOT written from multiple sources. Indeed some of out better written articles are basically mono-authored and use the author's preferred source. 2) The reason kids don't read the highly referenced works is not because "sources are evil" because they are often not written in a manner accessible to children. Wikipedia here is no different. Many of out bloated or complex featured articles are not simple and not particularly child friendly. 3) Read the School textbook, you are less likely to be reading downright bullshit.