Presents criteria parents and teachers can use to select song books for young children. Several such books are cited and briefly discussed, including some thematic collections of folk and Christmas songs. (SJL)

Offers advice to sufferers of "textbookitis:" (1) writing textbooks are not necessary for high school classes; (2) the best language textbook is a dictionary--money not spent on a writing textbook could be spent on sets of dictionaries; and (3) literature anthologies can be useful additions to the writing classroom. (RL)

Directed toward media specialists and social studies teachers, this article outlines a selection process and evaluation criteria for print and nonprint social studies materials. (SJL)

This guide provides teachers, authors, and editors with a fuller knowledge of economics textbook alternatives. The guide consists of four parts which provide information on 41 college economic texts published 1970-72. Part 1 is a guide to text identification through such objective factors as approach, length, price, rigor, publisher, title,…

Minority groups should be accurately presented in educational materials for all school children, especially those with minority backgrounds. Materials should avoid giving the minority child a negative self-image. Life should be portrayed as it is, including harsh realities. Factual material must reflect authoritative, comprehensive, and current…

This publication is designed to assist elementary and secondary schools in strengthening instruction by identifying and eliminating sexual stereotyping in educational materials. The model illustrates some of the ways in which curriculum and instructional materials may be developing sex stereotyping, offers suggestions for avoiding or correcting…

Clarifies and explains the ideologies and potential justifications of censorship efforts. Offers recommendations and procedures for maintaining an atmosphere with ample freedom to learn and positive community relations. (JDH)

Presented are critical reviews of 18 biology textbooks submitted for consideration by the Texas State Board of Education during 1984. These reviews are provided in three categories: (1) general biology textbooks: "Biology and Human Progress"--Prentice Hall; "Scott, Foresman Life Science"--Scott, Foresman; "Living Things"--Holt, Rinehart, and…

The Iowa State Department of Public Instruction has developed an instructional materials selection policy and procedures to help achieve appropriate assignment of selection responsibility and quality selection while guarding against unwarranted censorship of materials. The model emphasized the ongoing nature of media selection, involving…

One of the most important decisions speech communication basic course directors make is the selection of the textbook. The first consideration in their choice of text should be whether or not the proposed text covers the units integral to the course. A second consideration should be whether or not the text covers the special topics integral to the…

This paper is intended to be a guide for constructive and helpful participation by parents and citizens in inquiry about and involvement in the selection of educational materials. The paper argues for a systematic, step-by-step selection process, sensitive to local needs and concerned with high quality materials that should be divided into (1)…

States that academic freedom is probably better described today as a protected interest rather than a right. Offers a set of policy guidelines for handling censorship efforts. Includes a sample statement of policy on the selection and reconsideration of instructional materials. (JDH)

The recommendations in this document resulted from discussions by the Georgia Right to Read Advisory Council and outline the need for an effective, diagnostic-prescriptive teaching program in Georgia schools. Separate recommendations are made for each of the following areas: management design--initial steps that must be taken, in order to overcome…

The purpose of this unit of work is to provide the teacher participant with some useful guidelines for evaluating and adapting written materials for specific English as a second language (ESL) classes. There is pre- and post-assessment of specific learning tasks relevant to evaluating and adapting materials as well as learning activities, which…

The purpose of this book is to chart procedures for the selection and purchase of instructional materials and related services for the public schools. Recent developments cited as having a significant bearing on the selection process are (1) the struggle of minority groups toward new status; (2) the increased political power of parents, students,…