Changing Conceptions of Topic Illustrations in General Science Textbooks (1911–1934)

Abstract

Period 1911-16 Copyright Textbook Author Publisher Date 1. First Year Science_Snyder _Allyn and Bacon1914 2. General Science_Clark_American Book Company. 1912 3. General Science_Elhuff _D. C. Heath and Company 1916 4. Introduction to General ScienceRowell _The Macmillan Company. 1911 Period 1917-23 1. General Science_Bedford_Allyn and Bacon1921 2. Civic Science in Home and Community_Hunter and Whitman. American Book Company. 1923 3. The Science of Common Things. Tower and Lunt_D. C. Heath and Company 1922 4. An Introduction to the Study of Science_Smith and Jewett_The Macmillan Company. 1918 Period 1924-28 1. General Science_Snyder_Allyn and Bacon_ 1925 2. New Introduction to Science_Clark_American Book Company. 1928 3. General Science_Elhuff _D. C. Heath and Company 1925 4. Science of Home and Com munity _Trafton _The Macmillan Company. 1926 Period 1929-34 1. Our Environment: Its Relation to Us (Book I)_Carpenter and Wood_Allyn and Bacon_ 1933 Our Environment: How We Adapt Ourselves to It (Book II) _Carpenter and Wood_Allyn and Bacon_ 1934 Our Environment: How We Use and Control It (Book III) Wood and Carpenter_Allyn and Bacon_ 1934 2. Problems in General Science_Hunter and Whitman. American Book Company. 1934 3. The World About Us_Pulvermacher and Vosburgh -D. C. Heath and Company 1930 4. General Science For Today_Watkins and Bedell_The Macmillan Company. 1932 The selection, therefore, was based pri marily upon the availability and wide use of the eighteen general science textbooks listed. For ease of interpretation, the twenty-four years included in this analysis have been divided into four periods as indicated. Gen eral science textbooks of four publishers were used for each period. It is interesting to note that in the last period (1929-34) one pub lisher brought out a three-book series which, for convenience, will be regarded as a unit. In this article, reference will be made to the sixteen general science textbooks, that is, four for each period. After a careful analysis of the chapters relating to the topic, Air, in textbooks in vestigated, pictures were then classified ac 1A portion of this study appeared in The Journal of Experimental Education, V (June, 1937), pp. 368-372. Figures are substituted for tables in the present paper.