Discussion prepared by Detroit Public Schools Staff of social and educational inadequacies found in texts as well as a description of the method of study and its impact. A series of textbook evaluations is included. (NI)

Discussion of the current status of minority group treatment in textbooks, and a plea for more reliable textbook evaluation. Annotated reference list is included. (NI)

The "Garcia-Armstrong Matrix System" provides specific instructions for evaluating the way textbooks depict ethnic/minority groups. The matrix is formed by evaluating individual sentences for their references to the activity or passivity of the target group and to the status of the target group in relation to other groups named in the same…

In recent years European textbook research has begun to examine the topics of ethnic minorities, multiculturalism, hostility to foreigners, and racism. Its task is not only to ask whether textbooks should present such topics but also how they should be presented. In addressing the issues, an important question to answer is whether the textbooks…

Noting that major publishers have begun to depict a more balanced portrayal of ethnic story characters and content in their basal reading series, a study was conducted to investigate the extent to which stories depicting the three largest ethnic groups in the United States were contained in nine of the major and current basal reading series…

This report of a study, undertaken at the request of the Ontario Human Rights Commission, details: 1) precedents and historical backgrounds in textbook analysis; 2) the methodology of the present study; and, 3) recommendations based on the findings. Groups selected for study were: Jews, immigrants, Moslems, Negroes, and American Indians. The…

Six popular high school American history textbooks are examined to address accusations of overcompensation by textbook publishers as a result of the raised ethnic consciousness of the 1970s. The textbooks are: "Our American Heritage" (Silver Burdett); "The Pageant of American History" (Allyn and Bacon); "A History of Our American Republic"…

This study draws upon evaluations of 306 texts in common use in the 50 states. The books were read by over 100 experts who responded to a detailed questionnaire designed to assess the texts' amount of Asian content; accuracy, underlying assumptions and approach; inclusion of literature, the fine arts, and other primary expressions of the Asian…

Children's fiction written between 1945 and 1962 was analyzed for current stereotypes of minority Americans, and the results were compared with related studies of adult fiction and school textbooks. Two analytic instruments were applied to 114 minority characters selected from 42 children's books about American Indians, Chinese, Japanese, Negroes,…

This booklet, containing monographs on aspects of multiethnic curriculum in the schools, is intended to aid teachers to keep in touch with some of the strategies and criteria in planning and executing multiethnic programs. An article on new curricula for multiethnic schools notes that most of the urban and suburban schools are racially and…

This report discusses several perspectives on Asian/Pacific Americans and the educational issues that relate to them. It begins by providing a definition of "Asian/Pacific American," an historical account of their immigration, and a discussion of minority status and cultural relativism. A number of studies and personal experiences that…

This practicum was designed to improve an elementary school library's resources by making them more balanced in terms of portraying the diversity that exists in society: specifically the need to portray characters of different gender and diverse ethnic backgrounds in positive roles. The topics covered in this report are: (1) introduction, which…

An analysis is presented of nine textbooks that have been developed in Germany for English language instruction in secondary schools. The purpose of the study is to describe the view that Germans appear to have of the United States as reflected in the information and opinions expressed in these textbooks. It is noted that all the textbooks…

Various articles include the following concerns: a year-long study shows that 66 books about Asian Americans are elitist, racist, and sexist; practical guidelines for selection of nonracist, nonsexist books are provided; a noted playwright looks at the image of Asian Americans in children's books and finds it racist science fiction; the…