Describes a recent examination of the treatment of economics in high school social studies textbooks. Concludes that most texts were deficient in their treatment of economics and that there were errors of fact and interpretation in many texts. (Author/DB)

Analyzes textbooks currently in use in secondary level vocational training courses in the Soviet Union. Recommendations for textbook improvement call for research by educators, scientists, and publishers on problems of writing textbooks for vocational technical schools. (Author/DB)

The author examines elementary, secondary, and college level social studies textbooks, to see how they treat the presidency and presents a brief review of findings of student images of the presidency immediately before Watergate and one year later. He discusses four basic conceptual ways for teachers and curricula developers to reconsider the…

Suggestions are given for teaching students to be constructive, critical assessors of presidential decision making. The "benign leader" image presented in traditional textbooks is criticized, and a decision-making model and source materials are suggested for guiding students' discussions. (AV)

Selected secondary level geography textbooks from the period 1900-1970 indicate environmental determinism as the prevailing theme, one which persisted in such texts for 20 years after it was abandoned as a central theme at university level. Researchers should have more contact with developers of secondary level materials. (Author/AV)

An evaluation design is provided to help teachers identify the most suitable textbook for cultural studies. The evaluation design is applied to five recent college German textbooks in order to determine the interaction of culture and language instruction. (SW)

Discusses procedures for selecting textbooks. Provided are guidelines for reviewing textbooks, analyzing content, and analyzing strategies. (SL)

Argues that literary criticism, in the guise of genre theory, can illuminate a consideration of textbook language by (1) classifying texts based on form, (2) indicating the relation of that form to reader expectations and reader/author "shared past experiences," (3) determining communicable purpose and meanings, and (4) constraining…

Recent Tennessee and Alabama court decisions raise similar issues involving (1) fundamental rights protected by the First Amendment and (2) the process of public education. Outlines the effects these decisions have on teachers and in classrooms. The supporters would suppress critical thinking and imagination while opponents would promote critical…

Reviews widely-used introductory economics textbooks, examining how issues relating to race and gender are treated. Suggests how stereotypical roles could be avoided in the future. Includes a table summarizing data from 21 textbooks. (Author/DH)

Discusses the process of state textbook adoption and how this process influences the subject matter that will prevail throughout the country. Elaborates on the Texas textbook adoption system as an example of a statewide selection procedure. (GEA)

Presents a study which examined elementary science textbooks (grades four and six), noting (1) text organization and structure; and (2) the degree of problem solving required in chapter activities (according to Bloom's taxonomy). Reports a need for a more varied use of text structures and the inclusion of activities that utilize higher-level…

Identifies problems in basal readers caused by writers' use of vocabulary control and readability formulas. Provides suggestions for more effective employment of the basal reader, including suggestions on how to teach students to construct meaning from less than perfect texts. (ARH)

Presents an evaluation of the Houghton Mifflin and Scott Foresman Reading Programs which reveals that stories in both of these series satisfy the requirements of a conventional story grammar. Suggests that such stories help children comprehend and remember the stories they process and serve as excellent models of narrative. (ARH)

Discusses two sets of activities, one for elementary and one for secondary, to be used during Women's History Month. Provides a textbook checklist, to be used by high school students, to evaluate the coverage of women's history in-class readings. Includes addresses from which to order additional materials. (GEA)