Questions whether people during the past century had access to a range of reading materials and asks whether various groups of people acquired different levels of literacy skills. Concludes that the United States needs educational and cultural policies that will increase literacy skills while fostering the variety of materials read by citizens.…

Examines the role of ideologies in the history of American education. A case study showing how the Protestant ideology influenced the social outlook and actions of school reformers in the antebellum period of the nineteenth century is included. (AM)

Describes the difficulties that historians have in determining the truth about any historical event or issue. Contends that new areas of historical research, such as women's history, minority history, and radical history have diversified the concept of truth. Provides three sources of standards for truth to guide future historians. (CFR)