Presents 30 questions about values in reading that teachers can review when deciding which stories and readers ought to be used with children. The questions are divided into five categories: characters depicted; story philosophy of values; plot development; cultural, social and physical setting; and emotional intensity. (NEC)

Outlines some procedures for dealing with complaints and criticism over textbook selection practices. (HOD)

Integrates strategies and suggestions from professional books and articles to provide educators with an overview of components of the textbook selection process. Organizes the smorgasbord into three sections: the salad bar (initial screening), the main course (examination of textbooks), and the dessert bar (plans for implementation of the textbook…

Outlines the usefulness of a book club for elementary school teachers and reading supervisors on the topic of the teaching of reading. Discusses choosing topics for discussion, organizing the club, and forming a community of learners. Stresses the importance of reading across the curriculum. Argues that such a reading club can also assist teachers…

Criteria to serve as a basis for intelligent review and selection of books and materials for use in schools include: the nature of the learner; program gestalt; "teachability" of the material; determination of in-school use; content appropriateness; disposition of teacher, student, and parent; availability; physical format; cost; and…

Outlines American Library Association recommendations for writing policies and procedures covering the selection of instructional materials. (JM)

Censorship efforts are taking place throughout the country in spite of greater activism among anticensorship forces. One of the alarming trends is that many of the censors are now attacking the curriculum of the schools, challenging textbooks in reading, literature, history, science, health, and social studies. The International Reading…

A national survey reveals increasing attempts to challenge or restrict the books available to students. Schools need to establish a book selection policy, a method for dealing with complaints, and better communication with the public. (Author/JM)

Hearing-impaired students need exposure to materials that present accurate and encouraging portrayals of people as unique individuals of equal worth and varied talents. Presented are a checklist for evaluating textbooks for fair representation of characters with disabilities and suggestions for compensating for gender, ethnic, and disability bias…

In response to the problem facing college faculties of choosing textbooks that are both "readable" by students and adequate in content coverage, a text selection process has been developed that can be used with or without the aid of a reading specialist. The first step in the process, a preliminary check, examines each proposed text's publication…

This statement, prepared by the National Council of Teachers of English, addresses the increasing problem of censorship in the public schools in the form of pressure to restrict or deny students access to certain books or periodicals deemed objectionable by individuals or groups on moral, political, religious, ethnic, racial, or philosophical…

A variety of resource documents and articles are included in this professional improvement packet that is designed to assist teachers and administrators in reducing the conditions under which censorship might occur. The documents presented are: the Indiana code laws concerning textbook adoption; the American Library Association's library bill of…

To help defuse censorship efforts, this booklet identifies issues and strategies for handling censorship efforts and provides the instructional materials selection policies of two Montana school districts. The booklet also includes sample forms for a citizen requesting reconsideration of materials and for a school media committee's reconsideration…

This booklet shows teachers and administrators how their school districts can use the Reading Authority List of the Reading Information System I (I-RIS), an analytic process for making decisions about language arts curriculum materials. Following an outline of I-RIS, pages of the Reading Authority List are accompanied by guidelines for using the…

Designed to simplify the task of selecting the right reading materials for students, this guide provides a method for structuring the work of textbook selection committees. It guides committees through a six-step process involving answering the following increasingly specific questions: what is the socioeconomic background of the students? What do…