1990 NCTE Annual Business Meeting in Atlanta, Georgia

Background

Proposers of this resolution observed that teachers in many states are required to use state-adopted textbooks. Citing domination of some reading instruction by basal readers, they noted that the texts adopted often control curriculum and teachers’ classroom methods. They cited recent actions by California officials to judge text series on whether they support the state’s curriculum frameworks and to reserve the right to make no adoption if no texts meet its criteria. With many valid classroom materials and much good literature for youth on the market, the members said, many teachers want freedom from adoptions. Be it therefore

Resolution

Resolved, that the National Council of Teachers of English recommend that in all text adoption procedures, whether at state, district, or school levels, teachers as professionals have the right to decide how to use the texts which are adopted or, based on agreed-upon procedure, to choose not to use them at all;

that NCTE recommend that in the case of state adoption, local districts and individual schools within these districts have the option of choosing to use none of the adopted texts;

that NCTE recommend that in state text adoption procedures, trade books, classroom library collections, and other authentic language resources be included for consideration; and

that NCTE recommend that in the English language arts, district and school curriculum teams have the option of using state and/or district textbook funds to buy trade books and other authentic language resources.

This position statement may be printed, copied, and disseminated without permission from NCTE.