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Show fewGEORCE& BENSON i.- to be attainable in nonexistent alternative al-ternative systems, justified in textbooks which are presented to immature and receptive minds under un-der the authoritarian prestige of science?" The answer is: Definitely Definite-ly not The Hobbs book is a chanllenge and it comes from a distinguished educator. It says: Clean up sociology soc-iology textbooks and thus strengh-en strengh-en freedom's mightiest sword American education. The action should come from the profession 1 itself. . iicruKMi i no tedious task of carefully care-fully examining the 815 textbooks with tho hope that bis analysis would load to improvement of textual tex-tual materials and thus strengthen tho relatively now field of sociology. sociol-ogy. Tho work has had little publicity pub-licity outside tho sociology fraternity. frater-nity. It is a highly readable book for laymen. As an educator, a parent, par-ent, and a citizen I hope it readies every educational association, school and college board and PTA group in the country. N Shocking Teachings Dr. Hobbs' study was confined to the throe most popular courses in sociology, Introductory Sociology, Sociol-ogy, Marriage and the Family, and Social Problems. Tho 83 texts examined ex-amined were used in these three courses. Their subject matter deals with personality formation, educational educa-tional methods and goals, economic systems, government, marriage and the family, social controls, social disorganization, war, and social change. In last week's column we listed certain conclusions which Dr. Hobbs claimed were being fostered in these textbooks such as: "religion "re-ligion should discard supernatur-alism supernatur-alism (belief in God)," a socialis tic economic system is better than a competitive one, a "welfare state Rovernment is desirable, etc. Dr. Hobbs carefully points out that some of the 83 texts are exceptions but that the majority deviously undermine traditional American principles and beliefs. Condemn Private Enterprise In examining the viewpoint fos-stered fos-stered by the textbooks in the realm of economics, Dr. Hobbs reports: re-ports: "Most texts criticize private competitive enterprise as it functions func-tions in a capitalistic economy. Criticisms are in the form of sweeping generalizations regarding harmful effects of the economic system. Few texts attempt a realistic real-istic comparison with earlier conditions con-ditions in this society or with present pres-ent conditions in other societies . Authors of sociology texts offer little more than glittering and seductive sed-uctive generalities as alternatives which are presented in gleaming contrast to their gloomy forebodings forebod-ings and criticisms of exisiting economic conditons." Dr. Hobbs asks with powerful insistence: "Is a presentation which criticizes a functioning system sys-tem by contrasting it with hypoth- ' etical remedies which are believed .U;K t-HAl.l.KNJK K. last 2S years the l11""'11'" , sociology in our high u'h;"-s;n , 'colleges has become -l,lH,K; V ut influential toroes ;,ll0ot'tl TUo tuinking of ,h : '".ih is iHMiig shapod r.llion. h'.-v stmlv in sociology K'f nr A. H. Hobbs. pro-!lHX,fsiiology pro-!lHX,fsiiology at the Unlvor-'fSi0r Unlvor-'fSi0r Innsvlvania. has made an W 0 Itu v of S3 widely f 'f " v n- unhiasted presen-'r'i!,'a presen-'r'i!,'a nf Scientific facts some of 'tion ,h,nks are promoting the .JSleftwinl "liberalism " l-oi-e criticism appears just-'f:Unr just-'f:Unr Hobbs declares, "be-if't "be-if't textbook authors continue to wfL fundamental rules of r h fir presentation and persist K'ln in? their 'objectivity' as a hwinrr under which pk . carade their prejudice. The Station of 'sociological em-Pm em-Pm (special 'liberal' pleading) ft ;es stronger in more recent Sand is particularly pronoun- in hi"h school texts. Cii Luring Young Minds "This increased emphasis." says Profe,SOr Hobbs significantly, "oc-Z "oc-Z as courses in sociology become Cre popular in colleges and Lead into schools where teachers wit necessary qualifications for valuation, and where the immaturity imma-turity of students may lead to uncritical acceptance." pr Hobbs' findings are published publish-ed in his book, "The Claims of Sociology: A Critique of Text-ooks'MThe Text-ooks'MThe Stackpole Company, Harrisburg, Pa.). The book is a scholarly, restrained analysis of textbook sociology- Dr. Hobbs un- |