LITERATURE AND ATTITUDES IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS PERPETUATE PREJUDICE AGAINST NEGRO CHILDREN. A RACIST SOCIETY EXISTS IN THE U.S. ONLY WHEN THIS FACT IS RECOGNIZED CAN THE PROBLEM BE RESOLVED. LITERATURE DEALING WITH NEGROES FALLS PREDOMINANTLY INTO THREE CATEGORIES--(1) STORIES ABOUT FAMOUS NEGROES, (2) STORIES OF SEGREGATED NEGRO LIFE, OFTEN "QUAINT"…

An analysis of 11 contemporary secondary U.S. history textbooks showed that the sentences per page devoted to the Black experience represents a substantial increase over more dated textbooks. Not only has the quantity improved, but the range of coverage suggests an improvement in quality as well. (RM)

Traces the decline in importance and scope of invention under the prevalent current-traditional approach to rhetoric. Suggests that as a result students are being taught a writing process and a set of assumptions about discourse that have nothing to do with either how writing gets done or with contemporary thinking about the relation of language…

Evaluates how U.S.-Latin American relations are presented in high school U.S. history textbooks. An examination of 10 textbooks published between 1977-81 revealed inadequate coverage of Latin American cultural diversity and United States foreign policy from the Latin American perspective. (AM)

History and geography textbooks used in secondary grades in the Soviet Union and in the United States are being examined by scholars in both countries for factual errors and ideological distortions which influence how one nation perceives the other. A joint report, with suggestions for improvements, is scheduled for 1980. (MF)

A study of 139 textbooks written over the last 40 years. Recent texts are found to give more coverage to the psychology of later life, and many seek to present a positive image of aging and older adults. These treatments, however, often contain material that perpetuates stereotypes. (EVL)

Argues that the present methods of analysis such as pluralism, elitism, and institutionalism are insufficient paradigms to accurately discuss questions of vital concern to American Indian tribes. A study of 40 political science texts found only one considered to be adequate in describing Indian concerns. (GG)

Examines form and content of American Indian authored selections in South Carolina's high school literature anthologies. Results show only 36 percent are contemporary. The sample of traditional genres lacks balanced representation and does not reflect regional distribution of American Indians. Development of evaluative criteria specific to…

Reviews research related to textbook development and provision in developing nations. Stresses the importance of increased access to textbooks as a cost-effective means for improving educational quality. Examines four policy options for textbook development in developing countries: adoption, adaptation, government publication, and international…

Reviews whether textbook publishers have put the "world" in world history textbooks by comparing the editions of four different world history textbooks over 25 years. Evaluates 10 current editions of world history textbooks. Offers questions to consider and discusses additional content concerns. Includes charts and references of the reviewed…

The author frequently teaches introductory courses in what was once generally called "Western Civilization" and has often been called upon to referee all or parts of the manuscripts of new editions of "Western Civ" textbooks. Through his own reading, he has become aware that much current scholarship on ancient Israel and Judah…

An analysis and critique of two elementary textbook series: "Discover Art" by Davis Publications and "World of Music" published by Silver Burdett & Ginn are presented. "Whose content, context, and culture?" is an ideological question that assumes that equitable social relations and diverse ways of knowing ought to…

A content analysis of a 1976 series of primary reading textbooks was conducted to analyze salient factors affecting female role socialization. Examined in its entirety, the series was designed for grades one through six and contained 573 entries and 4,831 illustrations. In each of the textbooks, regardless of grade level, twice as many males as…

Concludes that the American Indian is misrepresented, distorted, romanticized and victimized in children's literature. (JH)

An analysis of 12 secondary economics textbooks revealed that the economic issues of poverty, unemployment, and labor as they relate to Blacks and Hispanics are often ignored. Economics texts would be greatly improved if critical work led to the inclusion of even such rudimentary information as race-specific employment data. (RM)