Discusses the results of several studies which evaluated how Africa was and is presented in elementary and secondary social studies textbooks. In the past five years, the coverage given to Africa has increased in quantity and quality. However, major new problems have arisen. (RM)

Social studies textbooks of the 1930's frequently accepted the changing times and the new world leadership without criticism. Textbooks downplayed the Depression, took an uncritical approach towards Roosevelt, and showed relative neutrality toward European totalitarianism. Political, social, and cultural reasons for these attitudes are explained.…

Minorities are now represented in almost all school books. However, this representation is often not balanced and its distribution across the range of instructional materials is uneven. (Author/MC)

Textbooks and other instructional materials must continually be created and evaluated in order to ensure that children of all races are fairly treated and thus receive the full benefits of the equal education guaranteed by law. (Author/MC)

Teachers must be sensitive to the needs of modern farm children to see themselves and their families reflected favorably and accurately in reading materials. (HOD)

Records the author's understanding that public texts written by others are not the only texts carrying covert ideological meanings. The article's analysis of the author's own text on Aborigines in Australia reveals ideological positions previously unknown to her. Argues that even a well-intentioned teacher cognizant of how texts work ideologically…

Notes that less than 1% of the new Prentice Hall American literature textbook, "The American Experience," is devoted to works by writers with Hispanic surnames. Offers two guidelines for the selection of literature outside the anthology: independent choice by students and teachers; and indigenous literature which arises from students'…

In the 16 college-level sexuality textbooks examined, photographs of Blacks have more impact than those of Whites, not only because of their rarity compared to the broad range of representations of Whites, but also because there is a problematic pattern to the kinds of images that appear. (IAH)

Content analysis of 12 Finnish and 18 American primers for grades 3 through 6 published primarily during the 1980s examined story type, plot setting, protagonist's characteristics, dramatic tasks, portrayals of family structure and parental responsibility, and extrafamilial peer and adult relationships. Results suggest that a nation's cultural…

Describes an examination of underlying themes presented in introductory sociology textbooks published between 1975 and 1989. Concludes that the books (1) portray society as overstructured and impersonal; (2) overinterpret society in ideologically liberal ways; and (3) overrepresent sociological knowledge as the "highest knowledge" about society.…

Surveys textbooks to examine how the deposing of the monarchy in Hawaii is treated. Suggests that teachers present three questions: (1) was the United States responsible for the overthrow of the monarchy; (2) how was the overthrow treated in textbooks; and (3) is it correct for the United States to deny responsibility? Argues that textbooks…

I examine how science curricula are complicit in maintaining the dominance of knowledge production by major powers, particularly the USA, through their efforts to tell the "truth" about certain topics, and whether resistant counter-discourses are being mounted, especially in "peripheral" states such as Canada, Australia, and…

This paper examines how the idea of "race" is represented in high school Canadian history textbooks. It looks at textbooks authorized by the Province of Ontario between 1940 and 1960 and those authorized after 2000. It is argued in this paper that even though historical racisms have increasingly made their way into Canadian history…

Textbooks have an enormous influence on the curriculum of schools across the nation. Many issues are taken into consideration when selecting textbooks. Textbooks that present students with a multicultural curriculum are often at the center of debate among school administrators. This journal presents a series of articles based on interviews with…