The purpose of this study was to identify the earth science principles pertinent to current programs in general education at the junior high level, and to determine whether selected textbooks provide adequate representation of those principles. There were 121 principles identified as being essential to the understanding of these five earth science areas: astronomy, geology, meteorology, oceanography, and physical geography. From these principles 108 were selected as being pertinent to the general education program in junior high school. The findings indicate that Alabama earth science textbooks do not adequately represent principles pertinent to the understanding of the five earth science areas. (PR)