Presents two opinions about whether to keep textbooks in the classroom. One states that textbooks are boring, simplistic, and error filled, and they teach children that reading is dull. The other suggests that textbooks are more powerful, more engaging, and better written than ever, filled with ideas for critical discussion. (SM)

In the fall of 1984, the Education Commission of the States (ECS) was awarded a grant from the U.S. Secretary of Education's Discretionary Fund to identify alternative state roles for improving instructional materials in mathematics. To help state leaders define an appropriate and effective role in upgrading these materials, ECS proposed first to…

Although all of us must teach against the text at times, I find myself doing this most often when teaching about qualitative methods in the context of a general introductory methods course. Myths about the nature and practice of qualitative research are both embedded in the folklore of mainstream sociology and supported by the textbooks that we…

THE AUTHOR, WHO IS A HISTORIAN, POINTS OUT THE PRACTICAL PROBLEMS OF TEACHERS IN SMALL COLLEGES WHO ARE FACED WITH TEACHING ASIAN LANGUAGES IN ADDITION TO SURVEY COURSES IN FAR EASTERN CULTURAL HISTORY. HE HAS FOUND THAT A COURSE IN THE CULTURAL HISTORY OF JAPAN OR CHINA WILL LEAD TO A DESIRE ON THE PART OF SOME STUDENTS TO LEARN SOMETHING ABOUT…

Paper presented at the general session of the annual meeting of the Dutch Modern Language Teachers Association, December 14, 1971. (WB)

The aim of this article is to map out the priority directions and shape the program for the development of the textbook. The tasks of adjusting the aims of education, renovating the priority directions in the selection of the content of areas of education and school subjects, and improving the tools and means, methods, and organizational forms of…

Presented is a detailed look at some published materials showing the widespread nature of the misuse of genetics terminology. Suggests that similar problems can be found in any genetics text. Concludes with a plan for urgent action and suggestions for improvement. (Author/CW)

The extent and nature of censorship in Illinois social studies classrooms is assessed. A questionnaire included in the state Council for the Social Studies newsletter asked social studies teachers at all levels to respond to a 12-item questionnaire covering censorship of texts, teaching methods, textbook selection processes, and origins of…

THE CONSTRUCTION, REVISION, AND STANDARDIZATION OF INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIAL IN GERMAN IS DISCUSSED IN THIS REPORT AFTER CONSIDERATION IS GIVEN TO THE METHODS AND GOALS CONNECTED WITH THE PRODUCTION OF LANGUAGE MATERIAL. THE ROLE OF RESEARCHERS, AUTHORS, PUBLISHERS, TEACHERS, AND STUDENTS IN DEVELOPING COURSE MATERIAL IS OUTLINED. DESCRIPTIONS ARE…

Examines advantages and disadvantages of using textbooks as the basis for curriculum and instruction, discussing textbooks as the predominant instructional medium. The article describes attributes of good textbooks and text structures, identifies strategies for improving readers' text comprehension, and notes teachers' role as facilitators in…

This report is the second part of a continuing effort to evaluate the economic content and related teaching strategies of new social studies textbook series used in the elementary grades. The following five textbook series are examined: (1) The World of Mankind (Follett); (2) The Ginn Social Science Series; (3) Our Family of Man (Harper and Row);…

The symposium, held in Wiesbaden, West Germany, November 11-17, 1973, examined the results of recent programs and research dealing with the teaching of modern languages to young children and formulated certain recommendations for submission to the Council for Cultural Cooperation of the Council of Europe. The following reports were presented: (1)…