After briefly discussing the causes and meaning of laughter, the phenomenon of the comic, the value of humor, and the difference between cruelty and "mellow" humor, the article examines the role of humor in the language class. It concludes that humor, meeting the highest standards, both textual and pictorial, provides a valuable motivational…

Efforts to adequately and accurately teach Negro history in the schools are discussed. Impetus for this drive has been given by psychologists who are convinced of the importance of including Negro history in the school curriculum in order to improve the self-concept and raise the aspirations of Negro students. Questions of "separate vs.…

Texts in educational psychology have been criticized because they allegedly fail to define the subject matter domain of the field, because they are written for instructors rather than students, and because no consistent theoretical position is taken. The fact that different texts stress different sets of data does not mean they fail to define the…

Fundamental concepts of motion are presented in this first unit of the Project Physics textbook. Descriptions of motion are made in connection with speeds, accelerations, and their graphical representation. Free-fall bodies are analyzed by using Aristotle's theory and Galileo's work. Dynamics aspects are discussed with a background of mass, force,…

The analyses of 31 social studies materials are based on the way the developers have dealt with the intents of the products, the organization of the contents of the products, the methodology for the use of each product, and the means of evaluation of learning that each product provides. (Author)

Describes an analysis of six secondary level biology texts to determine how they dealt with terminology. Concluded that technical vocabulary would be used more effectively if synonyms were eliminated and terms were explained at first appearance. (MLH)

Managed texts are written and designed by a team of writers and researchers under the direction and control of a publishing house. How these books got started, what needs they meet, their advantages and disadvantages, and the consequences they are having on college text publishing are addressed. (JMD)

Criticizes eight secondary-level state government textbooks for following a standard format, failing to relate important recent events to governmental processes and institutions, omitting discussion of topics such as campaign finance reform, and ignoring the relationship of academics to state government. (Author/AV)

Discusses how cultural geography textbooks can be written to improve the portrayal of people and cultures. Author's criticism is based on a study of cultural and human geography textbooks current in 1976 which revealed a predominance of male images and an abstract style of presentation. (Author/AV)

Describes seven texts designed for use in English methods courses for secondary school teachers. (DD)

Nearly three decades ago, the author started writing an American history textbook. He recently finished the revisions on the ninth edition and here he describes the struggles he had with his publisher, The Macmillan Publishing Company, in developing his history text. (Author/RK)

The back-to-basics movement has had a major impact on English/language arts textbook publishers. (DD)

Stanley D. Frank, president of the publishing firm Holt, Rinehart & Winston, condemns the lack of adequate, modern teaching materials made available to teaching professionals. He challenges Americans to examine their priorities and help teachers to become more effective. (Editor/RK)

This investigation was undertaken to determine if there were general and specific trends within school psychology between the years 1960 and 1975 as reflected by both the content presented and the changing amount of emphasis given to specific topics within school psychology textbooks. Data indicated trends in publication were present. (Author)