Presents the results of a study examining the content of marriage and family textbooks as it relates to students' changing attitudes toward delaying parenthood. Discusses commonly held beliefs and how they are presented in current textbooks. (CT)

Provides British elementary and middle grade teachers with guidelines for teaching about minorities, as well as for judging and taking action on bias in school books. (Editor/SJL)

Traces the attempts of English trade unionists in 1879 to amend what they felt to be the distorted presentation of unions and economic concepts in the reading texts published by the Church of England. (SJL)

Notes that boys continue to be portrayed in reading materials in activities stereotypically associated with males, such as sports, adventure, and leadership; suggests that reading materials are needed that show boys in nurturing and expressive roles as well. (MKM)

Reports on a survey undertaken to determine quality and quantity of presentation of women's political history, political behavior and public policy affecting women in 20 introductory textbboks used in college level American government courses. Findings indicated that little change has occurred since 1970. Suggestions are offered for enhancing the…

The purpose of this article is to review 10 recently published textbooks frequently used in United States history classes on the secondary level regarding their coverage of Hispanics. Findings indicated that treatment of Hispanic groups in textbooks has moved from glaring omission and superficial portrayal to depictions which are nonstereotypical…

Ironically, introductory textbooks for sociology present a distorted characterization of reality, ignoring race, class, and gender and generalizing from the experience of society's dominant group. New textbooks should have four themes: vital role of sociologists as social critics; diversity as socially constructed; people's role in shaping their…

Describes the sex bias present in a Latin text. Suggests some classroom activities to correct the biased view presented in the texts. Includes exploration of careers open to women in classical times, looking up Latin words for women, and rewriting reading lessons to contain a female character. (DK)

Argues that the first step in reassessing whether the values brought to the Americas by Christopher Columbus are desirable is to examine and dispel the myths surrounding Columbus and his deeds. Includes myths involving the purpose, financing, and manning of the voyage, and Columbus's own beliefs and fate. Suggests sources for locating accurate…

Examines the production of new history textbooks that appeared after the breakup of the Soviet Union. Argues that the radical revisions in official history in this context are shaped by the Bakhtinian process of "hidden dialogicality." Suggests that the importance of hidden dialogicality between narrative forms must be considered. (SC)

How many names of women from American history can the average, recent high school graduate come up with? How does this number compare with the number of males she or he can name? These are the kinds of questions that informed Janice Trecker's classic study of U.S. high school textbooks. They were also the basis for the research in Sadker and…

Describes two recent international incidents which tell a great deal about the Japanese "world view." The incidents regard the content of a new Japanese history textbook (protested by South Korea), and alleged racist remarks of Prime Minister Nakasone. Claims the two are related and provide lessons for our own version of history and conduct. (JDH)

Because American history and social studies textbooks are "official chronicles of the nation's past and influence the next generation's social understanding, content controversies abound. This article discusses the editorial ahistoricism, arid language, and disembodied figures characterizing most texts, reviews past successful models, and suggests…

Presents a study which examined the portrayal of Blacks in 11 secondary United States history textbooks and compared them to a set of textbooks published between 1965 and 1975. Reports that the treatment of Black Americans is only adequate, but has improved significantly. Provides recommendations for further progress. (KH)

Examines eight literary readers published between 1970 and 1980. Comments on the inclusion of works by women writers, attitudes toward women and men, the use of sexist language, and assumptions about the students for whom these textbooks were designed. (EKN)