Suggests sources which can guide schools in evaluating textbooks. (MKM)

Textbooks treat Afro-American history with a general unevenness, with little attention to Afro-American thoughts and activities. A theme that runs consistently throughout American history is the exclusion of Afro-Americans from the concept of American "people." There should be a two-pronged approach to examining this theme in the classroom. (AM)

Discusses factors that psychology professors should consider when selecting a textbook for introductory courses. These include readability, human interest level, comprehensiveness, and authoritative accuracy of the material. (RM)

As more states mandate study about religions, educators now have support for including religion in the curriculum. To address religion's role in American history and culture, three new curriculum publications from the Wiliamsburg Charter Foundation, the National Council on Religious and Public Education, and the World Curriculum Development Center…

Briefly reviews the literature on sex discrimination in U. S. history textbooks and its potential impact on students. Presents the results of a content analysis of five high school U. S. history textbooks adopted in Texas during 1979-84. Concludes sex discrimination and sex stereotyping were present in these textbooks. (JDH)

Reviews research findings on ethnic bias and stereotyping in textbooks and discusses the ways in which descriptions of ethnic diversity in Canada are being improved. The author discusses new government educational policies which call for textbook changes and outlines basic guidelines for establishing standards for textbook portrayal of cultural…

Considers Richard Ohmann's argument that composition texts which instruct students to emphasize concrete details over abstract concepts encourage conformity with the dominant order. Suggests that Ohmann failed to consider the effects of teachers' and students' viewpoints. Cites methods that encourage students to use detail as a device of broader…

Hearing-impaired students need exposure to materials that present accurate and encouraging portrayals of people as unique individuals of equal worth and varied talents. Presented are a checklist for evaluating textbooks for fair representation of characters with disabilities and suggestions for compensating for gender, ethnic, and disability bias…

This document presents guidelines, published by the Maryland State Department of Education, for the evaluation and selection of instructional materials. The first section of the document focuses on the review and selection of textbooks and instructional materials. The second and third sections deal specifically with the selection of materials…

These guidelines are meant to assist parents and educators in identifying books for children that are free of sexism, racism, ageism, and classism. Methods for analyzing both storybooks and textbooks for bias are presented. Special emphasis is placed on evaluating basal readers and history texts. A number of evaluative checklists are presented…

The first section of this paper concerns definitions and concepts of multicultural education, multiculturalism, and the means of achieving cross-cultural functioning. Section 2 deals with the major objectives of multicultural education. These objectives are discussed in relation to the introduction of concepts of multicultural education into the…

In 1985, People for the American Way released its first review of biology textbooks that was inspired by the ongoing controversy over whether or not (and how) evolution should be taught in public school classrooms. The purpose of this review is to gauge how successful the response of educators and scientists have been at convincing publishers that…

This report contends that most U.S. history and government textbooks give only cursory attention to the Second Amendment "...the right of the people to keep and bear arms..." to the U.S. Constitution, and most endorse a particular political view of the amendment, rather than providing the necessary background for an informed political…

Arranged in three sections, this pamphlet outlines publishers' guidelines for developing nonsexist instructional materials for elementary and secondary school use. Section 1 details the following strategies for expanding and balancing the role models of both sexes in instructional literature: illustrations reflecting a variety of dress and…

The content of current teacher education textbooks was analyzed in regard to the attention paid to contributions of women to society, recognition and discussion of sexism, and sex stereotypes. Also presented are measures teacher educators need to take to rectify potential inaccuracy and imbalance in the textbooks they use. Biased attitudes were…