Social studies textbooks of the 1930's frequently accepted the changing times and the new world leadership without criticism. Textbooks downplayed the Depression, took an uncritical approach towards Roosevelt, and showed relative neutrality toward European totalitarianism. Political, social, and cultural reasons for these attitudes are explained.…

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…

Indicates that physics textbooks currently used in Britain present a clear masculine image and argues that a change in "image management" could encourage more girls to enter physics. (Author/SK)

Minorities are now represented in almost all school books. However, this representation is often not balanced and its distribution across the range of instructional materials is uneven. (Author/MC)

Textbooks and other instructional materials must continually be created and evaluated in order to ensure that children of all races are fairly treated and thus receive the full benefits of the equal education guaranteed by law. (Author/MC)

Warns teachers to be cautious in accepting the free and inexpensive instructional materials offered by business, utilities, and trade associations because these materials may contain subtle industry propaganda. Describes how industry promotes such materials and suggests guidelines for reviewing them and for counteracting biased presentations. (SJL)

Contemporary efforts to empower women as physicians is analyzed. The early history of women and medical education is surveyed, especially the problems of admission into medical schools. Federal antibias legislation directed at curriculum and textbooks is also reviewed, along with the development of a "women in medicine" course. (CT)

Analyzes discourse roles and gender fairness in dialogs within three recent textbooks for the teaching of English as a foreign language. Results show fairness was achieved through gender balance in social and occupational roles. Negative implications of gender-imbalanced dialogs for female students plus language practice opportunities are…

Finds that, although the number of times men and women were shown in photographs in business communication textbooks was balanced, the physical appearance and role portrayals perpetuated traditional stereotypes of men and women in the workplace. (SR)

Records the author's understanding that public texts written by others are not the only texts carrying covert ideological meanings. The article's analysis of the author's own text on Aborigines in Australia reveals ideological positions previously unknown to her. Argues that even a well-intentioned teacher cognizant of how texts work ideologically…

Notes that less than 1% of the new Prentice Hall American literature textbook, "The American Experience," is devoted to works by writers with Hispanic surnames. Offers two guidelines for the selection of literature outside the anthology: independent choice by students and teachers; and indigenous literature which arises from students'…

In the 16 college-level sexuality textbooks examined, photographs of Blacks have more impact than those of Whites, not only because of their rarity compared to the broad range of representations of Whites, but also because there is a problematic pattern to the kinds of images that appear. (IAH)

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…

Content analysis of 12 Finnish and 18 American primers for grades 3 through 6 published primarily during the 1980s examined story type, plot setting, protagonist's characteristics, dramatic tasks, portrayals of family structure and parental responsibility, and extrafamilial peer and adult relationships. Results suggest that a nation's cultural…

Describes an examination of underlying themes presented in introductory sociology textbooks published between 1975 and 1989. Concludes that the books (1) portray society as overstructured and impersonal; (2) overinterpret society in ideologically liberal ways; and (3) overrepresent sociological knowledge as the "highest knowledge" about society.…