Years ago, it became established that the severity and length of the Great Depression were due largely to misguided Federal Reserve monetary policy and the resulting catastrophic bank failures. This result is confirmed by surveys of scholars in the area and books specifically written on economic history. Yet the leading textbooks used in high…

This article examines coverage in social studies curriculum and U.S. history textbooks, specifically, of women in the American Civil Rights Movement (CRM) and considers how social studies teachers can broaden the narrative they teach to include more gender-related issues and the work of women activists. The author found that despite a rich body of…

In an article published in 1993, Rahima Wade reviewed the quality of social studies textbook content analyses published in three major social studies journals between 1982 and 1992. She concluded that the quality of this research was disappointing. Borrowing and refining Wade's methods, this article presents the findings of a review of all 29…

This article uses a curricular analysis study to examine how the events of 9/11 and their aftermath are presented to secondary students in supplemental curriculum and social studies textbooks published from 2002-2010. Shortly after 9/11, many political leaders and social studies educators advocated teaching about 9/11 and its aftermath because…

This article examines how recent history textbooks from the United States, Japan, China, and South Korea present the Korean War. The comparative analysis focuses on four areas: the causes of the Korean War, American involvement in the war, Chinese involvement in the war, and the results of the war. Analysis of the central story lines reveals that…

The purpose of this study was to describe a group of fifth grade students as they engaged in process drama during their social studies class. The author found that students who engaged in process drama learned to combine texts to understand and create new texts. As they became engaged in the material, students collaborated with each other and…

Reports the results of a study designed to determine whether eight widely used elementary basal social studies textbook series contained more "back-to-basics" content in 1979-82 than they did 10 years prior during the rise of the "new social studies." The data showed a marked influence of back-to-basics in all of these series.…

The author analyzes pedagogical exercises related to Native Americans in thirteen U.S. history textbooks currently used in grades three, four, five, eight, and eleven. The purpose of the research was to determine the extent to which U.S. history textbooks offer, or fail to offer, opportunities for students to engage in and develop higher-order…

The author reviews the content; methods of instruction, and philosophy of selected eighteenth and nineteenth century social studies textbooks. Short biographical sketches of well known authors are also included. (DE)

Of the 36 texts examined, only two did not deal with values education in any significant way. The remaining 34 provided inadequate coverage. Almost all of the texts failed to discuss criticisms of the various approaches used to teach values and issues related to the imposition of values. (RM)

The Educational Products Information Exchange (EPIE), a nonprofit national education materials review organization, analyzed 10 elementary social studies textbook series. Results, which are discussed in this article, show that elementary-level social studies textbooks are not good enough. Recommendations are made. (RM)

Presents a critical examination of six high school geography textbooks to see how they varied in their treatment of world politics, and comments on the degree of nationalistic bias in each one. Suggestions for teachers are included to help them deal with political concepts and bias in textbooks. (Author/AM)

Maintains that recent statements from United States Department of Education officials are in direct opposition to National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS) curriculum guidelines. Provides examples from seven high school textbooks to demonstrate accurate treatment of totalitarian regimes and urges social studies educators to oppose official…

Reports the results of a longitudinal textbook study designed to assess the level of treatment given Irish, Italian, Jewish, and Polish Americans in selected United States history textbooks. Results show that coverage briefly increased in the "multicultural period" (from 1977 to 1978) but has significantly decreased in recent years. (JDH)

Examines the problem of inadequate coverage of ethnic groups in social studies texts. Claims that the coverage of groups included is often unbalanced. Defines reasons for this failure as including political and economic constraints. (BSR)