A Critical Review of Content and Methods in Elementary School Textbooks Titled Heavens’ Presents

An elementary school course titled “Heavens’ Presents” is one of the very important courses in the Iranian educational system as it is aimed at the teaching of moral and religious fundamentals to the pupils. However, the achievement of the said aim is highly in doubt, given the shortcomings observed in both the content of textbooks, and methods of explanation therein, used in the course. To identify the shortcomings through triangulation, in addition to conceptual reexamination, and referential use of research findings, six explanatory approaches were utilized in order to content analyze the aforementioned textbooks. Results show at least twelve intertwined shortcomings: the incongruence between the format of the books and students real environment, lack of clarity in explanations, improper expectation as to the pupils’ adherence to all aspects of religion, creation of psychological contradictions for students, lack of a cohesive approach to recommended actions, lack of balance in emphasizing Islamic teachings, benign fear and shame in teaching commands, inadequate use of new methods of teaching morality, overemphasis on disciplinary approach to explanation of the content, inappropriate explanation of abstract concepts, inductive questioning or problem presentation, and finally omitting some of the basic concepts. In other words, a fundamental revamping of the reviewed textbooks and refitting them to students’ psycho-social, and cultural conditions is a must.