A study examined 58 home economics education textbooks in terms of reading difficulty, writing style, and interest level for special population learners. The objective was to identify texts, using six different readability formulas that were significantly more difficult and provided educational obstacles to special populations in their preparation…

The purpose of this study was to examine the factors that have influenced the selection and the production of the literature textbooks for grades 10-12 in the public schools in Tennessee from 1951 to 1971: guidelines set up by the Tennessee State Textbook Commission and by the publishers; the adopted editions of literature textbooks listed in the…

In a two-part study to determine if an inservice education program could change attitudes toward language and behavior in teaching language, 34 secondary English teachers took a graduate level linguistics course and participated in a four-day language workshop which included the writing of a language curriculum guide. A questionnaire was then…

Effective procedures and techniques for using a textbook along with a philosophy of textbook use in k-12 schools are given in this second issue. The social studies textbook is described as a tool to be used in conjunction with other supplementary instructional materials, such as audio-visual materials, reference books, periodicals, and lectures.…

This essay is written for the secondary school teacher who is organizing that first course hoping to suggest some of the answers to the question: where to begin. The author begins by very briefly describing the discipline in terms of its central concerns with some history and some prediction for tomorrow. Against this historical background,…

Analyzes textbooks currently in use in secondary level vocational training courses in the Soviet Union. Recommendations for textbook improvement call for research by educators, scientists, and publishers on problems of writing textbooks for vocational technical schools. (Author/DB)

Discusses a study designed to explore teachers' attitudes toward text selection, focusing on text characteristics and reasons for a particular selection. (AEA)

Provides a check list of evaluation criteria to supplement the SMOG readability formula in choosing new content area textbooks. (Author/KS)

A selective number of general, bibliographic, curriculur, professional and textbook references are introduced as a guide for the history teacher in choosing with discrimination from the wealth of available materials for study of Afro-American history. (SM)

Analyzed man-environment textbooks to characterize the "typical" book and determine which criteria need to be assessed most carefully by instructors. The study's purpose was not to decide which book was best, but to evaluate which features of books vary most. Provides four questions as tools for the initial textbook screening process.…

Discusses the evaluations of U.S. history textbooks conducted by People for the American Way. Concludes that the higher-rated textbooks are useful only for college-bound students and the lower-ranked textbooks seem to be aimed at children with reading difficulties, thus pointing out some of the problems facing selection committees. (KO)

Describes and compares five basic German texts for high school students and includes the evaluative criteria used. (CK)

This paper addresses the question of whether introductory students are learning the essential concepts of sociology. A study of 18 introductory sociology textbooks, dated from 1973 through 1977, indicates that these basic concepts are not clearly and intelligibly presented. Although over 1500 concepts were included in 18 glossaries, only one…

This examination of textbooks shows the very wide range of approaches adopted. Aims, content, and methods of presentation are compared. The uses of questions in the books are examined in detail. The characteristics of the books are related to the variety of approaches to the teaching of biology in schools. (Author/MA)