THIS REPORT PRESENTS THE FINDINGS OF A PANEL OF SIX AMERICAN HISTORIANS FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA WHO REVIEWED SEVEN HISTORY TEXTS WIDELY USED IN THE STATE TO ASSESS THEIR TREATMENT OF THE AMERICAN NEGRO. THEY FOUND THAT MOST OF THE TEXTS REFLECTED VIEWS REJECTED OR DRASTICALLY MODIFIED BY GOOD CURRENT HISTORICAL SCHOLARSHIP. MANY OF THESE…

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)

Raises the issue of prepublishing censorship by textbook makers in geography texts, provides some examples of this kind of screening, and suggests ways for teachers and students to address the problem. Indicates that textbook makers must be sensitive to public values, political forces, and the market. (TRS)

Illustrates how a five-phase theory based on a new scholarship in women's history can evaluate curricular change about women present in high school history texts. Also suggests what textbook authors might include and an evaluation of 12 recent texts. Concludes that texts must eliminate stereotypic thinking about women. (TRS)

This article introduces and discusses some aspects of the complex problem of textbook reform, and suggests what the future holds for textbooks. (DCS)

The senior author of a textbook presenting U.S. and Canadian history in a comparative framework criticizes U.S. history textbooks for their interpretations of Native Americans and for their mystifying tendencies. Explains how "Canada: A North American Nation" presents a more detached perspective and offers a second opinion on some of the…

Reports on a review of nine elementary social studies textbooks for their treatment of African-American history and culture. Finds that the West African origins and culture of African Americans is largely ignored. Determines that textbooks present a biased and incomplete picture of slavery in early U.S. history. (CFR)

Based on expert review and research, this book provides an innovative standard and guide to social studies textbooks used in kindergarten through 12th grade classrooms for content, style, and design. The standards provide a foundation for individuals to select satisfactory textbooks and to help educators and school boards in the adoption of…

Contemporary children must deal with many family problems that children 20 years ago never had to face, including divorce, parental separation, death, working mothers, and economic status. To determine how well current basal reading series reflect the changing American family, the stories of four basal reading series for grades four, five, and six…

To determine whether elementary reading textbooks from a socialist country contained less sex-role stereotyping than previously-studied United States readers, an analysis of 374 books from the German Democratic Republic (G.D.R.) was undertaken. A sex bias index was calculated for both the G.D.R. and the U.S. books by finding the average difference…

This report evaluates the treatment of Aisa in American elementary and secondary school textbooks. The study was undertaken by the Asia Society. Guided by a detailed questionnaire, 103 scholars, teachers, and others with Asian expertise reviewed 306 books commonly used in the 50 states during 1974-75. This book summarizes the process of…

This second report on American History textbooks used in Michigan schools is divided into three sections: 1) background information of the 1968, ED 032 369 survey; 2) a description of the 1970-71 study; and, 3) conclusions and alternative actions being considered by the State Board of Education. A survey was conducted to determine impact of the…

The contents of this book, about the impact on the values of young people which textbooks and other books designed for them from preschool through twelfth grade have by the way they depict black people in the United States, include the following articles: (1) "Storytellers and gatekeepers," J. Janis and P. Franklin; (2) "Black vs. Negro history:…

This manual was developed for use of participants in 10 workshops that were designed to help teachers to identify and overcome sex and ethnic bias. The workshops provide a framework for consideration of the often subtle ways that bias may be an inherent element in textbooks, instructional materials, and teachers' attitudes and behaviors.…

Outlines are presented for teacher workshops on identifying and overcoming biased attitudes reflected in current literature and classroom instructional materials. Each session includes: (1) a needs assessment activity or exercise to express initial concerns; (2) a lecture introducing new concepts and activities; (3) activities providing an…