Texas approved these elementary Social Studies series for local adoption in 1997. They rank below in descending
order of acceptability (from best to worst) based on the consensus of citizens who reviewed them.
We recommend adoption of Macmillan's elementary Social Studies series because:
Most patriotic of the four series, its 3rd grade text features both Benjamin Franklin and George Washington
in 6-page lessons. American History topics fill 89 pages of Macmillan's 3rd grade book compared to Harcourt's 36.
In 4th grade, Macmillan's Texas History's excellent 5 pages on the Battle of the Alamo dwarfs Silver Burdett's one half page. Only Macmillan's among
the 5th grade texts, includes Booker T. Washington's work at Tuskegee and quotes Phyllis Schlafly.
Macmillan's 6th grade World History text extensively covers the rise of Judaism and Christianity. It quotes all 10 Commandments, Jesus in the temple at age
12, and the sermon on the Mount. It contains references to Paul, Cornelius, Lydia, and Onesimus. Coverage of other religions is comparable.
Why is the Harcourt Brace series last?
The Harcourt Brace Social Studies series thrusts first, second, and third graders into social activism without
presenting conflicting positions on such controversial issues as the homeless and pollution, and long before such young children can draw their own conclusions.
The 3rd grade Harcourt text devotes a 6-page lesson to South Africa's government, including a full page on their president, but gives George Washington only
a few short lines and a smaller picture.
In its 6th grade World History text, only Harcourt among the four publishers censors the basic doctrine of Christianity, the resurrection of Christ.
