Indonesia is a diverse country consisting of various cultures and also religions. Currently, there are six official religions recognized by the Indonesian government, which are Islam, Protestant, Catholic, Hindu, Buddhi, and Confucianism. Thus, it is important for English book writers to design an English textbook that not only accommodates the…

This article analyzes how the Bharatiya Janata Party crafts a narrative of history in line with its ideology of Hindutva by decontextualizing and omitting information. Using school history textbooks prescribed by its state government in Rajasthan from 2013 to 2018, it uncovers how historical events and personalities are reinterpreted to craft a…

How are religious traditions and exchanges between them constructed in textbooks used in Quebec? Through a critical discourse analysis of History and Citizenship Education, and Ethics and Religious Culture textbooks, we find that the Abrahamic monotheistic tradition is valorized, while non-Abrahamic monotheistic traditions and polytheism are…

Forty introductory psychology texts from the 1950s and 160 texts from the 1970s were compared for their inclusion of information on religion, and then evaluated for the objectivity of their treatment of the subject. Results showed no systematic presentation of the subject and increasingly neutral references to religion. (AM)

This study, undertaken in 1963, analyzed the references made to religion in elementary social studies textbooks. The report was intended to inform authors, publishers, and teachers and enable them to correct errors, supply omissions, and omit irrelevant material. The textbooks used in the study consisted of 120 elementary (grades 1-6) public…

Examines the hazards of teaching school children to have unquestioning trust in the government and its leaders. Suggests that students should be taught the actual rather than an idealized mechanism version of the American politics, and also the importance of the democratic citizen as both supporter and critic of the system. (MK)

As more states mandate study about religions, educators now have support for including religion in the curriculum. To address religion's role in American history and culture, three new curriculum publications from the Wiliamsburg Charter Foundation, the National Council on Religious and Public Education, and the World Curriculum Development Center…

Identifies developments in U.S. history in which religion played a decisive role. Investigates the way these religious forces were dealt with in 10 high school U.S. history textbooks used in Alabama. Concludes that they ignored or distorted the place of religion to the extent that students are denied knowledge of recent historical research. (LS)

Five fifth grade and five sixth grade textbooks commonly used in Michigan public schools were examined to determine the extent to which they (1) reflected the pluralistic nature of the U.S. society and also (2) showed scholarship, educational soundness, and appropriate readability. Six of eight independent and qualified educators reviewed and…

Based on an examination of 50 general social studies textbooks, the report discusses the most frequently found biases, misconceptions, omissions, inaccuracies, and misrepresentations. Criteria for judging the textbooks include: readable and suitable materials; accurate and current content; presentation of Africa as a diverse continent; open…

Reviews the activities of the New Christian Right (NCR) related to teaching evolution in the public schools. Describes the effects of legislation and court litigation on the NCR's efforts to eliminate secular humanism from textbooks. Provides an NCR definition of secular humanism. (LS)

The role of religion in American society has been ignored by textbook publishers and is not being taught in U.S. schools. The support for the separation of church and state is eroding as a result. Includes a sidebar providing supplementary resource materials on religion for use by teachers. (MD)

Reviews proceedings in "Mozert v. Hawkins County," in which the Sixth Circuit Court found that Holt reading series used by Hawkins County Public Schools caused the plaintiff students to "forfeit a free public education." Implications of this court decision are discussed. The judge narrowed the scope of the decision to the…

Pressure from scholars, educators, fundamentalists, and others has convinced publishers that textbooks are weak in religion, classics, social studies, and science. Publishers, pushed by new content standards set by California and other states, seem ready to change their content and approach. (Author/MSE)

Discusses an article which presents a concise discussion of secular humanism. Reviews additional materials on censorship from the perspective of the new religious right, the fundamentalists, and public policy and the law. The sources provide background to enhance teaching about secular humanism and textbook censorship. (SLM)