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Elizabeth L Wood Cindy Burchett Human Relations Independent Study 7 March 2013 Resource Analysis for Bias: Avancemos 1 When I started this assignment, I thought it was best to assess the textbook that I use in my class. Now, before I begin it might be worth noting that I am the only one who has a copy of this textbook, as when I arrived to my new school this year I was told their was not money to purchase a set for me. I also thought my textbook would pass a multicultural education checklist because its for Spanish. The book inserts culture for multiple countries, as Spanish covers 21 countries so I thought for sure it would not only pass but also surpass expectations. What I actually found is that my textbook merely passed. The book received soaring marks for

showing more than one race or nationality, showing equal males and females, and covering different neighborhoods and geographical settings. What the book does not do well is include people with disabilities in active roles, include different socioeconomic backgrounds, cover a variety of careers, vary age group of people in textbook, it does not include historical contributions by many groups, and it is somewhat debatable if the language used in the text is inclusive of males and females. I would like to expand on these negative points. The book has included a person with a disability in the early sections it includes a boy in a wheel chair as an active character in a story; however, he is the only one. People with other disabilities and mental imparities are not included. Most characters used in the text and images of settings are from middle class, and rarely are rich or poor people covered. Activities mostly cover young people, and parental figures and the occasional grandparent appear as the story calls for it but not often. The book also covers cultural points of interest, like famous painters, unique foods, and special festivals, but does not cover many points of historical importance to all countries. Lastly, Spanish is a male-dominated language. I often call it sexist to my students. For example, if I describe one boy as handsome he is guapo and a girl is guapa, but if I have fifty girls and only one boy the adjective takes the masculine plural form guapos. I cant say this is the textbooks fault, because they do use forms like nosotras or Elena for subject pronouns, but it definitely doesnt help the books case. So the book is recommended as a multicultural textbook, but does not receive a highly

recommended mark for the aforementioned reasons. Check list attached below:

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