166. Memorandum From the Director of the United States Information Agency (Marks) to President Johnson1
BIWEEKLY REPORT
In my recent visits to overseas posts I regularly inquire about the content of textbooks in secondary schools. My particular concern rises from the manner in which they describe the United States, its government, its political institutions and its culture.
[Page 512]From my observations, it appeared that the textbooks of many countries contained misinformation or inadequate information which was being given to children at very impressionable ages. As a result, misconceptions and prejudices were being developed which are difficult to eradicate.
To confirm this view, I recently conducted a survey in all areas of the world and found that preliminary impressions were accurate and that in some countries the teachers had a prejudice against American cultural or political institutions which resulted in a serious bias being disseminated to the student bodies.2 In only a few countries did we find that the textbooks devoted adequate attention to the United States and its role in world affairs.
As a result of this survey, I have proposed a cooperative program with AID, the Peace Corps and other agencies which play a role in overseas education to enable us to:
1. Assist school authorities in foreign countries in the preparation of textbooks relating to the geography, history, literature and cultural, social and political characteristics of the United States.
2. Provide grants through public or private foundations to local teachers or professors in the textbook field; to study textbook rights and production methods of the U.S.
3. Encourage book translations into local languages on subjects that are germane to these topics.
4. Stress the greater use in USIS libraries of our collection of American reference books on these topics.
5. Hold seminars on American studies for significant groups of secondary school teachers.
In addition to these steps, I propose to stress the greater use of our “Ladder Edition” books which are simplified English versions of American books for foreigners who have a limited vocabulary in English. These books are reduced in vocabulary to 1,000 to 5,000 words, simplified in structure to permit rapid reading and appreciation to hold the attention of people to whom English is a second language.
The “Ladder” series encompasses a wide selection of program themes ranging from communism and international relations to nation-building, the American social and cultural activities and significant literature.
The series is now being sold throughout the world except in English-speaking countries. Currently, approximately 30 new titles are published each year in editions of 20–30,000 copies. The books sell for 15ȼ retail but many copies are distributed free of charge. To date, 192 titles have been published and approximately 4 million copies have [Page 513] been sold. For your reference, I am attaching “Building a New Country” which was reduced to a vocabulary of 1,000 words of English.3
- Source: Johnson Library, White House Central Files, Confidential File, Agency Reports, Box 135 [2 of 2], United States Information Agency, 1967 [3 of 3]. No classification marking. Sent through Maguire, who did not initial the memorandum. Maguire sent the memorandum to Johnson under a September 20 covering note in which he noted that Marks “reports on a new USIA-AID-Peace Corps effort to improve the American image presented in foreign textbooks and classrooms.” (Ibid.) Marks sent a copy of the memorandum to Cater also under a September 20 covering note. In it Marks stated: “I thought you would be interested in the attached biweekly report. It covers the same ground that we discussed the other day.” An unknown hand wrote on the note “DC has seen.” (Ibid.)↩
- Not further identified.↩
- Not found attached.↩