The approach characterizing this study of bias in tests of educational achievement is stated to be reflective and philosophical rather than experimental and statistical. Its concern is with operationally definable areas of learning and indicators of achievement rather than with the hypothetical latent traits that are presumed by some to influence…

For use with junior and senior high school students, this book presents more than 250 drawings and pictures, with an introduction and brief texts in English and Spanish, depicting 450 years of Chicano history. The book covers: Mexico before the Spanish Conquests, Spain's colonization of the Southwest, the United States war on Mexico, events in the…

Choosing texts, media, and literature about Africa is a difficult task for school librarians who have not studied Africa in detail; however it is possible to evaluate the available materials on the basis of several important criteria. These include the authority of the author, the dates of preparation and publication, and the accuracy of…

The professional and personal biases of an evaluation team at Cornell University were found to interfere with the assessment of an interdisciplinary, team taught, problem oriented curriculum in International Studies. An account was given of the hiring of the evaluators, evaluator role ambiguity, evaluator professional clashes, facilitation of…

On October 14, 1974, the Kanawha County Association of Classroom Teachers requested that the Teacher Rights Division of the National Education Association (NEA) conduct an investigation into the textbook controversy. This report contains information on the background, evolution, educational consequences, and dynamics of the conflict, and the…

The controversial and complex issues regarding the effects of educational and psychological testing on the education of minority group children in America are discussed. Although the focus is primarily on black students, the issues discussed are equally valid for all minority populations in the American public schools. The articles in the book…

This paper discusses the controversy over nonstandard dialects as opposed to the standard language in the teaching of English and makes a case for maintaining a commitment to Standard English. The primary function of standard English is to provide a means by which members of English-speaking society can communicate with each other. It is…

A pilot study was conducted to ascertain if creative abilities measures could be adapted to the upper elementary school level and maintain their factorial validity. The factorial validities of seven measures of productive thinking abilities at the upper elementary school level were tested across grade levels and different socio-economic…

The concept of multicultural education is discussed along with implications for accepting and fostering cultural differences. The concept of cultural pluralism must be broadened to include a commitment to the right to be different if the full benefits of multicultural education are to be realized. A wide range of qualities can be included in…

A number of methods have been used to identify potentially biased items within a test. These methods examine one item at a time and do not deal with the complex interrelationships among items or among items and the potentially biasing elements. The use of multivariate procedures to assess whether or not items are biased and to obtain clues about…

Notes the problem of teaching reading and writing in a way that is not racially or culturally biased. Offers teaching strategies for combating this, including using a wide variety of works from other races and cultures that provide a range of minority perspectives in a nonstereotypical fashion. (JC)

The first of two articles describes changes in information services in Iran since the Islamic revolution. Topics covered include the publishing industry, library collections and technical services, reference services, library personnel, information service administration, library education, and professional associations. The second is a call for…

Reviews the major issues involved in testing Black children and youth. Argues that testing must be demystified by improving professional training, and that testing must be viewed as only one part of the assessment of achievement and ability. Concludes that more Black professionals must be included in the process of test development and…

Examines the issue of equality of opportunity and social mobility in terms of differences between urban and rural young people in South-Western Nigeria, focusing particularly on those handicaps associated with female disadvantage. Reports results of interviews with 359 rural and urban female secondary school students. (JHZ)

The number of Black faculty, administrators, and students at predominantly White colleges and universities has been declining because of White elitism, ethnocentrism, and racism. Affirmative action policies do little to undermine the status quo. Strategies for coping with racism-induced stress must be developed. (BJV)