Some educational materials produced by industry are among the best available. (DS)

Reviews "The Elements of Literature," a high school literature anthology series. Concludes that the series is particularly strong in grades 9 and 10 although the selections for grades 11 and 12 are conservative. Recommends not purchasing the entire series with all its ancillary materials. (RS)

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…

Focuses on messages found in primary-level textbooks used in Kenya and the United Republic of Tanzania. Assesses the extent to which these materials reflect government policy. Found that the Tanzanian texts do reflect the value of the national leadership values, but that those used in Kenya had an orientation in sharp contrast to government…

Analyzed is the lack of specificity in the approach to environmental issues in Brazilian biology textbooks. The main reasons for this are discussed and results of an evaluation of the effectiveness of a local publication in the development of environmental awareness among a group of students is presented. (CW)

Investigated whether positive female traits were attributed to male main characters in six basal readers. Although positive female traits appeared in the male characters, the overall composite and depiction of individual characters indicate that male personalities are dominated by male-linked virtues such as independence and a willingness to take…

This article is the world history counterpart to a previous paper on American history textbooks, "How Much of the Sky? Women in American History High School Textbooks from the 1960s, 1980s and 1990s," Social Education, January/February 2004. The authors of this article examined six books from each decade, the 1960s, 1980s, and 1990s. The analysis…

In spite of the fact that historical issues are challenges of political education, Japanese educational studies have not been able to properly deal with them. One of the reasons is that Japanese educational researchers have accepted without question the presence of nationalistic understanding of history as the most important cause of the…

The problem of sex bias in textbooks, particularly at the elementary level, is treated in this report. Sexism is defined and discussed in relation to the current women's movement. Research findings, as well as examples taken from various texts, indicate sex stereotyping and discrimination in instructional materials. A list of available remedies…

Discusses steps taken to eliminate bias and misrepresentation from history textbooks and examines how descriptions of historical events can be affected. Describes how groups can question textbook material and states that, if the goal of textbook writing is to offend no one, then history will cease to exist in the schools. (GEA)

Presents the concerns and ideological agenda of Accuracy in Academia (AIA). Argues that there is a real threat that professors' rights to textbook selection are endangered by such groups. (MS)

Many things are wrong with college level economics textbooks. For example, they are too ahistorical, too particularist, or unsystematically eclectic. The requirements of a good college economics textbook are examined. (RM)

Surveys selected British schoolbooks for controversial racial and multicultural content (checklist provided at end of article). Notes customary procedure for textbook production and suggests ways to bring about changes. (JDH)

Presents a critical examination of six high school geography textbooks to see how they varied in their treatment of world politics, and comments on the degree of nationalistic bias in each one. Suggestions for teachers are included to help them deal with political concepts and bias in textbooks. (Author/AM)

A study of two elementary basal reading series found that, although the proportion of female main characters has increased, it was still less than that of males. Also, fewer men than women were depicted in nontraditional roles. (FG)