The current approach in teaching Japanese as a second language is questioned as inefficient. The forward-looking approach does not condition students to expect that they must learn all the items of a set before being able to learn anything else. (HP)

Recommends selection criteria for college level sociology textbooks, including appeal, coverage, interest, difficulty, and salesmanship. The article concludes with suggestions for motivating students to read the textbooks. (Author/DB)

Discusses the extent to which five popular English teaching texts distinguish between active and passive vocabulary in learning English, and pleads (offering concrete suggestions) for more attention to the vocabulary aspect in constructing teaching textbooks for junior high schools. (Text is in German.) (IFS/WGA)

This article discusses ways in which photographs can be most beneficially used in the French language classroom. (Author)

If public education is going to attempt to meet children's needs in our present and future ever-changing society, teachers must continually review the material they use in their classrooms. Considers this factor in teaching the concept of family in a social studies lesson. (Author/RK)

A study of physical and pedagogical characteristics, determination of basal difficulty, and story contents in West German and United States reading texts shows that basal readers are more often similar than dissimilar, perhaps having undergone similar developmental changes across cultures. (JM)

An examination of the role of process and content in social studies is offered. Concludes that both are equally important and that diverse process goals may be emphasized in guiding students to achieve viable facts, concepts, and generalizations. (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)

Seeks to promote more discriminating use of current language textbooks by attempting to isolate a general implicit goal in their development, by pointing out developmental issues awaiting resolution, either in theory or in practice, and by identifying assumptions about the desired role of teachers and students. (Author/DJD)

Describes the nature and form of knowledge that should be in social studies textbooks. Argues that substantial knowledge can be used by academic reviewers and teachers as a framework for analysis of social studies texts and to encourage dialogue about the purpose and structure of social studies lessons. (BSR)

Considers the origins and development of the textbook view of causality and experiment by examining the various editions of Woodworth's PSYCHOLOGY (1921-1947). Examining the gradual emergence of the experiment-causality relationship, Winston contends that introductory textbooks oversimplify the concept of causality and he explores possible…

The issue of religious freedom and school curriculum confronted by the federal courts in the case of "Mozert v. Hawkins County Board of Education" has led four federal judges to analyze the facts and issues in four different ways. Summarizes and analyzes the opinions and the implications for educational administration. (MLF)

Discusses the "religious right" and censorship in the Texas textbook controversy; in Hawkins County, Tennessee; and in an Alabama state law dealing with voluntary school prayer. Concludes that unless groups monitor and oppose far right attempts to ban books and curricula, censorship will likely increase. (GEA)

Provides a review of the use of history textbooks in United States schools. Focuses special attention on studies which sought to determine the treatment of specific groups or themes in secondary history textbooks by applying content analysis techniques. Concludes that only a limited number of studies quantified the data upon which the analysis was…

Examines readability of elementary science textbooks regarding visual supplements (color, visuals, and page layout). Significant relationships were found between cloze scores and both grade level and content. Also found significant interaction between grade and sex in favor of older males. Eight of nine texts were at or near readability…