Various perspectives on the highly complex textbook debate are presented in this book, which includes essays by educators, publishers, policymakers, and scholars. Currently, the advocates of higher academic standards, coherence, and quality occupy the strongest position in the debate. Part 1 looks at textbooks from a historical perspective. The…

The consistency of content areas was assessed for six college health textbooks published between 1980 and 1987. Texts were analyzed to determine coverage of ten selected content areas: (1) motor vehicle accidents; (2) teenage pregnancy; (3) suicide and homicide; (4) alcohol and drug misuse; (5) smoking; (6) nutrition; (7) exercise and fitness; (8)…

This document addresses the complex issues surrounding the production, selection, and use of textbooks in the context of the current educational reform movement. The first section discusses the need for textbook reform, examining the problems associated with their content, presentation, and supplementary materials. The second section discusses the…

THE ADDRESS SUMMARIZES THE 1964 GENERAL FOREIGN LANGUAGE PROGRAM OF THE MODERN LANGUAGE ASSOCIATION (MLA), BUT EMPHASIZES THOSE ACTIVITIES FUNDED BY GOVERNMENT CONTRACT OR WITH FOUNDATION SUPPORT. AMONG COMPLETED GOVERNMENT-FUNDED PROJECTS DESCRIBED ARE (1) JUNIOR AND SENIOR COLLEGE MODERN LANGUAGE ENROLLMENT SURVEYS, (2) THE PUBLICATION AND…

An examination of current textbooks for freshman English composition courses reveals that authors, editors, and publishers continue to perpetuate outmoded techniques which frustrate, rather than enhance, student writing ability. Most notable of these techniques is the unnecessary emphasis placed on complicated rules of grammar. Such an emphasis…

This EPIE report contains parallel, common language descriptions of 26 life, physical, and earth science offerings for junior high school students from nine commercial publishers. Materials have been designed for one-year courses and have copyright dates from 1975-1980. Information for each program is presented under the following headings: (1)…

This document is an English-language abstract (approximately 1,500 words) of a report concerning the distribution and production of school textbooks in India. All states except Gujarat have nationalized textbook production. While several states have produced more than 150 textbooks through state-controlled efforts, many others have produced only a…

This introduction to, and overview of, history of library science instructional materials covers the Williamson Report, teaching materials from early Columbia days onward, American Library Association book publishing activity, media in curricula and library school publication of syllabi, commercial publishing of textbooks, and periodicals in…

Describes a reading assessment technique (different from most reading level evaluations) involving identification of the concepts for study, categorizing the statements about the concept, and analysis both within and between texts. Analysis allows teacher to make judgments relating to convenient order of concepts, rate of development, and…

Utilizes citation analysis to examine issues of author attribution in academic scholarship. Although widely credited to W. I. Thomas, the "Thomas Theorem" appears in a book written in collaboration with Dorothy Swaine Thomas. Citations routinely ignored Dorothy Thomas's contribution until the 1970s, when gender issues became prevalent.…

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)

Defines scientific theory. States that life science textbooks often misrepresent theory in their presentations. Presents an analysis of "Prentice Hall Life Science," a textbook adopted by several states including California, and two other popular texts. Criticizes these texts for equating myths, beliefs, legends, and theories, and their…

Illustrates how each of the five phases of book production (identifying ideas and audience, pre-writing, first draft, editing and rewriting, and assembly and dissemination) were applied to an English-as-a-second-language student-developed book of interviews with citizens. (Author/CB)

Examines: (l) disagreements with publishers during 36 years of authoring textbooks, (2) difficulties of co-authoring textbooks in view of the haste with which they are produced, (3) necessity for high textbook standards from both teachers and publishers, (4) the fact that there are few textbooks authored by teachers. (NKA)

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)