Following on earlier examinations of biology high school textbooks' handling of race, this study examines eleven biology textbooks, intended for US high school use and published between 2014 and 2019. It offers a close reading of these textbooks' treatment of four topics that have been associated with race: genetic disorders, human origins, skin…

This study explores the extent to which the term "sex hormone" is used in science textbooks, and whether the use of the term "sex hormone" is associated with pre-empirical concepts of sex dualism, in particular the misconceptions that these so-called "sex hormones" are sex specific and restricted to sex-related physiological functioning. We found…

Two books are reviewed which discuss conservative critics of textbooks, especially critics of the presentation of evolution in biology textbooks. The article tells who these textbook watchers are and describes their aversions and preferences. (BB)

Analyzed is the lack of specificity in the approach to environmental issues in Brazilian biology textbooks. The main reasons for this are discussed and results of an evaluation of the effectiveness of a local publication in the development of environmental awareness among a group of students is presented. (CW)

Presents a review of BIOLOGY: A SEARCH FOR ORDER IN COMPLEXITY, a textbook designed for high school students and produced under the sponsorship of the Creation Research Society. (PB)

In 1985, People for the American Way released its first review of biology textbooks that was inspired by the ongoing controversy over whether or not (and how) evolution should be taught in public school classrooms. The purpose of this review is to gauge how successful the response of educators and scientists have been at convincing publishers that…

The discrepancies between science and creationism are reflected in curriculum controversies. Students should be free to choose which theory they like, according to the creationists who view Darwinian science as incompatible with absolute moral values. (DS)

In the past, science textbooks have been the target of criticism by educators and feminists in studies of sex bias in education. The purpose of this study was to develop a useful tool that could be used in formative or summative evaluation of the level of sexism in science textbooks and as a research tool to study the effect of sexist…

Examines between-school variation in gender and ethnic inequality in course-taking of physics and biology. A multilevel analysis of 19,743 Israeli twelfth graders reveals the sciences are taken less often by underprivileged Jewish ethnic group students, physics is taken more often by males and biology by females, and gender typing is particularly…

In the past, science textbooks have been the target of criticism of science educators in studies of sex bias in the past. The purpose of this study was to examine the illustrations in the biology textbooks most commonly used in high schools in the United States. Seven textbooks were examined for their representation of women in illustrations of…