Reading Bias in Textbooks: President James Buchanan and the Schoolbooks

22 Pages Posted: 19 Mar 2011 Last revised: 24 Mar 2011

See all articles by Mark Mraz

Mark Mraz

Slippery Rock University

Date Written: March 15, 2011

Abstract

Much of what people know about history, historical figures, and events come from their schoolbooks and their teachers’ explanations of these events. Many of the misconceptions about President Buchanan come from the fact that most textbook authors dismiss him as ineffective: thus rendering him a footnote to history. A random number of textbooks were surveyed for their treatment of the fifteenth President of the United States. These textbooks were published between 1871 and 2006. Most of these historical narratives reveal bias, misinformation, hearsay, rumors, and a cursory sketch of the historical figure. Such is the case of President James Buchanan.

Suggested Citation

Mraz, Mark, Reading Bias in Textbooks: President James Buchanan and the Schoolbooks (March 15, 2011). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1786577 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1786577

Mark Mraz (Contact Author)

Slippery Rock University ( email )

College of Education
McKay Education Building
Slippery Rock, PA 16057
United States
724-738-2288 (Phone)
724-738-2779 (Fax)

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