Abstract

This study is textbook analysis of a social studies 1 textbook for gymnasiet. It’s goal is to locate the reflection of certain base values connected with the Swedish curriculum for gymnasieskolan. The curriculum states that the schools are tasked with educating youths to become responsible, generous, and tolerating with a sense of justice, Meanwhile many youths are left alone with their textbooks isolated from the teachers interpretations. A question that arise are how these youths are able to learn these values through the textbooks.

Two main questions are highlighting the study.

1.      How does the textbook reflect base values like generous, responsible, tolerating and sense of justice?

2.      How well do these results reflect the curriculum?

Of the four value concepts, taking responsibility was by a wide margin the one that was conveyed, either directly or indirectly. Howeverm in the vast majority of cases the term appeared only of a descriptive nature for publicly employed services and their ”area of responsibility”. The results show that the textbook to a low extent gives students the opportunity to develop these values. For example, the economic chapter shows tendencies of a kind of antigenerosity attitude. At the same time, the governing documents highlight the educational mission as an important part of the school’s overall mission.