Savage, blood-thirsty, drunk, monosyllabic, naked, and primitive are the stereotypes of Native Americans in textbooks. These stereotypes are so pervasive that they tend to be accepted uncritically by the rest of society. The evidence suggests that many textbooks are biased and, in a large number of cases, outright racist. The concept of…

This study compares the English and Swahili language texts used in the primary grades in Kenya and Tanzania in order to ascertain the role of language in determining the content of instruction and to relate the content of these texts to significant characteristics of governmental educational policy and the values underlying them. The introductory…

In the past, science textbooks have been the target of criticism of science educators in studies of sex bias in the past. The purpose of this study was to examine the illustrations in the biology textbooks most commonly used in high schools in the United States. Seven textbooks were examined for their representation of women in illustrations of…

Multicultural education is designed to increase cultural awareness and decrease ethnocentrism. This paper contains 31 article annotations that examine multicultural education through: (1) the current status of programs at the national and state levels, along with teachers' attitudes and professional practices; (2) college and university courses…

The report is the result of public hearings conducted in 1975, in Santa Clara County, California, to study the conditions which demonstrate sex discrimination or prejudice in educational institutions. The purposes of the hearings were to provide public awareness of specific instances of sex bias in education and to determine the extent to which…

The most recent evidence available indicates that prejudice against minorities and women is still widespread in America. Schools have not only failed to combat these prejudices, but they have often served to actively promote them. Textbooks generally ignore the position of minority Americans in contemporary life and often discuss minority history…

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…

This book recounts the author's experience of teaching in a predominantly Negro elementary school in Boston as part of a program to upgrade segregated schools. He describes specific incidents to convey the bigoted attitudes of the teachers and other authorities, which he feels were manifest in their behavior and in the curriculum and activities of…

This volume contains the proceedings and the papers of the first national conference on the life, influence, and the role of the Chinese in the U.S. The proceedings include papers, films, slide presentations, and addresses. Among the topics covered by the papers presented are the following: (1) contributions of Chinese art to Fresno culture, (2)…

This is a digest of articles which originally appeared in the bulletin, "Interracial Books for Children." Its purpose is to evaluate trade and textbooks with special concern for racist and sexist content and to suggest alternative materials for home and classroom. Included are the following articles: Doctor Dolittle--The Great White Father,…

Teachers and administrators should be able to distinguish between adequate and inadequate treatment of different ethnic groups when selecting culture-fair materials for the classroom. When selecting such materials, they should consider the following criteria: (1) validity of information (accuracy, perpetuation of stereotypes); (2) balance…

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…

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)