In June 1998, news of a horrific murder outraged the nation and the world. Three white men chained James Byrd, Jr., a black man, to the back of a truck and dragged him to his death just outside Jasper, Texas. The crime took place at a time when many people believed that "America was moving beyond race." The crime shattered that notion. Or did it?…

This book argues that it is the incorporation of a multicultural agenda into basal readers, the primary tool for teaching reading in elementary schools, that has stunted American children's ability to read. The book shows how basal readers have been systematically "dumbed down" in an effort to raise minority students'"self…

This book examines the presentation of American Indian music by elementary music educators in Oklahoma, which has the largest American Indian population of any state. A literature review covers an historical profile of multicultural music education, ethnomusicological studies of American Indian music, dissertations pertaining to American Indian…

Part 1 (SE 533 869) traced history of physics textbooks and discussed texts produced from 1850 to 1870. This part examines aims/methods of physics teaching, textbook style, and cognitive/affective aspects of physics textbooks. Factors that influence the writing and preparation of the texts are also considered. (JM)

Because of revisions made in the content of history textbooks, Japan has been accused of attempting to rewrite history as part of a larger conspiracy to brainwash students and to rearm the nation. Discussed are the legal authority of the national government to screen and approve textbooks and international reactions. (RM)

Lists 25 things that teachers should consider when evaluating the linguistic components of the texts they select and use for English grammar and writing instruction. (RL)

Many didactical difficulties encountered in contemporary school physics are due to an outdated philosophy of science as illustrated by the energy concept, an example of a theoretical term which cannot be defined operationally with the help of simple measurement operations. (Author/DS)

The authors provide criticisms of the teaching of organic chemistry in the United States. They suggest that changes be made in the method of presentation of the material, with topics introduced early in the course providing framework for subsequent material. (Author/SA)

Presents the results of a survey study conducted in the United Kingdom to identify the opinions of 65 chemistry teachers from Middlesex and Buckinghamshire about the use, costs, design, and content of 0 level and A level chemistry books. (HM)

Argues that the increasing number of non-specialist students of French in British universities requires an investigation of the adequacy of "general purpose" syllabi, grammars, and methodologies. Suggests that the effective design of syllabi and methodologies for specific purposes students is enhanced through detailed analysis of a…

Explores the influences of text structure on students' conceptual change. Case studies were conducted and results showed that individuals used refutational text to change their alternative conceptions and acquire new concepts. Findings indicate that refutational text does cause cognitive conflict. While refutational text is effective for groups,…

Drawing from 10 widely used freshman writing textbooks, this article demonstrates the problem of implicitness existing in regard to 2 notions central to writing instruction in the United States: "voice" and "audience." The article enumerates ways in which textbook presentations of these concepts disadvantage second-language…

Discusses the notion of personal response, which is a method in English-language teaching that aims to elicit learner production of discourse in the target language. The article distinguishes between reader-response and personal response approaches and demonstrates how the inclusion of reader response in literature-based communicative language…

Considers the ubiquitous use of textbooks in social studies classrooms and recommends constructing critical-thinking exercises revealing textual bias. Suggested exercises concern issues of emotional or ambiguous language, geographic and cultural inclusion/exclusion, and accuracy of data. Includes several examples of critical-thinking activities.…

Fourteen middle- and high-school curricula published over 10 years were examined via a content analysis instrument. Little difference occurred in noun and pronoun usage within curriculum texts. Illustrations were scarce but showed greater female representation. There were differences in gender representations according to topic. (SM)