The amounts and kinds of speech information in high school English non-literature textbooks were examined in 32 textbooks published between 1960 and 1964 to measure the proportion of each book devoted to speech instructional materials and to locate 28 pre-determined speech areas recommended for secondary level speech instruction. Using a Quality Index, the textbooks were judged to be good, fair, or poor. Findings indicated that (1) speech coverage in the textbooks ranged from 2% to 22% of the content, (2) only eight of the 28 recommended areas of speech content appeared in more than half of the textbooks with fewer than half of the texts rated as good, (3) little positive relationship was established between quality ratings and the quantity of speech coverage, and (4) although the importance of oral communication was generally recognized, more accurate coverage was given to speech experiences than to basic speech skills, and distinctions between oral and written expression were not made. This study implies that, judged by textbook content, the field of English does not offer adequate speech instruction at the secondary level. (Author/JM)