This article draws on experience both within commercial textbook publishing and on textbook-development projects at the UCL Institute of Education to interrogate the current dynamics of 'neoliberal' edu-business (after Ball, 2012). The author discusses some damaging limitations inherent in publishing coursebooks predicated on what Young and Muller…

In 1994, I embarked on a PhD study to examine, for the first time, what happened inside the classroom during history lessons in pre-Second World War Britain. Previous studies had relied largely on a study of textbook content and official curricula guidance, without stopping to ask how and whether such materials were actually used in pre-war…

The gamut and solmization, two theoretical concepts devised by the ancient Greeks and developed as pedagogical aids by subsequent theoreticians, were used extensively in the music textbooks of seventeenth-century Britain and eighteenth-century America. This study investigated these concepts in the texts of several characteristic English and…

Notes introductory undergraduate economics textbooks have no formal analysis of the rationale for direct foreign investment by multinational firms. Examines this area in an attempt to develop more content information for undergraduate courses. (RKM)

Highlights the special features of the language of economics which are likely to cause problems of understanding, and suggests ways to help students overcome them. (BSR)

Content of 10 British primary school history textbooks was analyzed to identify their emphases and approach to the role of women. Although most contained a broad range of types of history, political and military history was favored. Qualitative and quantitative analysis disclosed that all but one presented a very traditional approach to the role…

Describes a method for assessing humanized science content and presents the results of a content analysis study conducted on 60 secondary science textbooks to determine the presence of "humanized content." (JDH)

Little is in print on the development in Britain of university disciplines including the academic study of education. This paper provides a historical narrative of the study of adolescence from the 1870 Education Act to the contemporary day. Adolescence textbooks are examined in the context of changes in the education system, such as the demand…

This survey of 11 recently published biology textbooks includes an analysis of content, certain general characteristics, readability, and use of questions. Differences between these and earlier textbooks are noted. The reading difficulty of the new books is found to be less than for those covered in a previous survey. (Author/JN)

Discusses the portrayal of scientists in commonly used school GCSE textbooks and addresses the issue of their suitability for teaching the ideas and evidence strand. (Contains 30 references.) (DDR)

The transition of American Revolutionary studies in British upper primary and secondary schools from a rather smug Victorian notion of a gracious monarch granting ungrateful colonies their independence to a more sophisticated and varied treatment is examined. (RM)

Argues that much of the monetary theory in economics textbooks has not changed in accordance with the facts of monetary history. Contends that by neglecting institutional changes in the monetary system in the 50 years since the publication of Keynes' General Theory, many textbooks are now in danger of seriously misleading their readers. (GEA)

Focuses on an understanding of the term, "cultural awareness," and suggests the issue is clouded since the word "culture" lends itself to variable interpretation. In addition, the description of what is actually included under cultural awareness has undergone considerable changes as it appears in the different sequential…

Analyzes the ways some school science textbooks for 14-16 year-olds were used in Great Britain to portray the topic of human sexuality. Examines 15 books that vary greatly in their approach to the topic. Contains 30 references. (DDR)

Presented is a detailed look at some published materials showing the widespread nature of the misuse of genetics terminology. Suggests that similar problems can be found in any genetics text. Concludes with a plan for urgent action and suggestions for improvement. (Author/CW)