One of a series dealing with current issues affecting language arts instruction, this paper brings into focus some of the issues surrounding textbooks in the schools so that informed decisions can be made regarding textbook selection and use. The major portion of the paper explores professional opinions regarding textbooks, noting the following:…

A three-part review process is proposed as an aid to textbook selection for college courses. After an introductory discussion of the importance of developing standards and criteria for selecting course texts, the three-phase process is presented. The initial phase involves the establishment of departmental criteria for textbooks, which may be…

Intended to encourage the development of textbooks and related materials that are both worthy of being read and readable, this paper presents standards for high quality reading instruction materials for kindergarten through grade 8. Approved by the California State Board of Education, the standards are based on the premises that better reading…

A RECOMMENDED STANDARDIZED SYMBOLIZATION RESULTED FROM A DETAILED COMPARATIVE STUDY OF ANALYTICAL SYMBOLIZATION AND TERMINOLOGY FOUND IN MUSIC THEORY AND HARMONY TEXTBOOKS WHICH WERE IN GENERAL USE IN THE UNITED STATES. OVER 200 MEMBER SCHOOLS OF THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOLS OF MUSIC PROVIDED DATA ON MATERIALS. ABSTRACTS SHOWING…

An APA task force, after critically analyzing graduate level psychology textbooks, found sex bias in the style of these books as well as in reporting more studies by males than by females. To avoid future bias, the task force has issued certain guidelines and principles which are listed in this article. (SE)

Discusses the problems involved in textbook publication, stressing the importance of providing a broad-gauged national history in the face of opposition from religious and other special interest groups. Expresses the need for educators and others to form advocacy groups or lobby for improved textbook writing and content. (GEA)

A checklist of procedural guidelines for selecting new and replacement textbooks, films, tapes, kits, anthologies, and other instructional materials. (DD)

From the viewpoint of the publisher the sequence in the development of training materials is outlined in eight basic steps, and guidelines are suggested for prospective textbook authors regarding qualifications, proposal, manuscript preparation, and writing. (HD)

Context in this article is the victimization of teacher's in their purchase of textbooks. (RK)

A discussion of the advantages and disadvantages of using an anthology as a text in a literature course. (RD)

To show that in their elementary school years, American students read many pages of inconsiderate text, a segment from a sixth grade social studies textbook is analyzed. Criteria used to determine considerateness are structure, coherence, unity, and audience appropriateness. (RM)

Provides an evaluation of regional texts on Latin America by means of analyzing opinions of 45 Latin Americanist geographers. Findings are presented in three categories--highly rated texts, intermediately rated texts, and others. (DB)

The demands of special interest groups from the conservative right and the liberal left have resulted in more restrictive censorship in American education. (RL)

Projects a general description of a 1985 Social Studies Textbook that is based on what text publishers are designing at this time; advocates that educators express their needs to publishers before the judgments are final. (MAT)