Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Significant Curriculum Issues
Significant Curriculum Issues
Significant Curriculum Issues
.. HOLLIS L. C AS WELL
January, 1952
economic crash of 1929, when deep con book writers not only have incorporated
cern was expressed both by laymen this emphasis into their books, but have
and educators that the school curricu proposed particular solutions to prob
lum be related much more directly lems. Certain students of the curriculum
than it had been to the problems our have gone still further, holding that it
society faced. It was emphasized that is essential that the curriculum worker
education should make a direct con project his conception of the ideal so
tribution to the solution of persistent ciety and organize the curriculum so
social problems such as unemployment, as to contribute directly to its realiza
use of leisure time, conservation, hous tion.
ing, and health. During the recent war Since the war it has become increas
it was obvious that the nation expected ingly evident that relating the curricu
the school to gear its program to exist lum to social problems and conditions
ing conditions so that direct contribu involves controversial issues of great
tions were made to the war effort. This difficulty and importance. Strong ob
experience during two periods of na jections have been raised by individuals
tional emergency brought into clear and organizations throughout the na
focus a concept that had been taking tion to emphasis on points of weakness
form gradually for many years, which in our society. Attacks on liuilding
was that the kind of education afforded America a nd like materials are indica
by a school system should be determined tive of an unwillingness on the part of
to a considerable extent by the needs some people to have anything taught
and conditions of the society that main that can be interpreted as suggesting
tains the school. This concept has be a need for change in our existing eco
come a widely accepted guide for de nomic and social arrangements. Attacks
veloping the curriculum of American on textbooks and teachers as being so
public schools. cialistic often reflect a lack of confi
Currently, however, there are in dence on the part of laymen in the in
dications of major difficulties in apply terpretation teachers make of social
ing this concept to curriculum develop problems and conditions.
ment, as well as evidence of an inclina Following the depression of 1929
tion on the part of some people to there was a substantial movement in
question its soundness. the direction of organizing the cur
Efforts to relate the curriculum to riculum with direct reference to the
social problems and conditions have functioning of society. Plans of scope
taken a variety of forms. There have and sequence based on areas of living,
been numerous attempts to organize social functions, and social processes
the curriculum so as to deal directly were designed to make the curriculum
with social problems. As a result em relate directly to problems and condi
phasis has been given to the shortages tions of social life. While this move
and weak points in our social structure ment no doubt has exerted a significant
and processes. Bad housing, racial dis influence on curriculum planning, the
crimination, and like matters have re fact is that this direct approach has
ceived increased attention. Some text largely disappeared, even though state-
210 Educational Leadership
merits of curriculum principles continue characteristics of the learner, subjects,
to assert the importance of social needs and social ideals, problems and condi
and conditions as guides in curriculum tions shall operate in planning. Both
planning. of these points have been long-time
The present situation therefore is one matters of disagreement in curriculum
in which the relationship of the school development. They continue to be of
curriculum to the problems and con great importance and merit most care
ditions of our society presents issues of ful continued study and research.
vital significance. These issues are in The first of these points came to at
tensified because of the numerous con tention early in the curriculum move
flicts in our culture at this time. Trends ment because of questions concerning
toward greater governmental centraliza the respective roles of the expert and
tion and control, while having sufficient the classroom teacher in curriculum
public support to be put into effect, planning. More recently increasing at
are bitterly opposed by substantial tention has been given to the part the
groups in the population; a world out pupil himself should have in planning,
look which would subordinate national and to the role laymen should play.
interests is viewed as essential by some Some curriculum workers would place
and by others as a betrayal of our almost complete responsibility for all
country; moves toward greater equality phases of curriculum planning on the
among races, while welcomed by many, pupils in a given' group and their
are considered a grave threat by others. teacher; others would give a school
Numerous conflicts of this type perme staff major responsibility for planning
ate our life at the present time. How the general framework of the curricu
should the curriculum be related to lum and the individual teacher full
such social problems and conditions? authority over detailed planning within
What should be the guidelines in draft the broad guidelines provided by the
ing an educational program suited to staff; others would follow still different
such a situation? Should a direct rela procedures, giving varying degrees of
tionship be sought through curriculum emphasis to the participation of ex
planning? Such are the issues in this perts, system-wide committees, and lay
problem area. This area is opened up men, as well as of pupils and teachers.
especially well in a recent book by The second of these points has been
Smith, Stanley, and Shores, entitled, one of the most persistent areas of disa
Fundamentals of Curriculum Develop greement in the curriculum field. The
ment. point has usually been raised by ques
tioning the appropriateness of subjects
How Shall the Curriculum Be Planned? as the basis of ^ organizing the curricu
The third problem area, planning lum. The subject framework has been
the curriculum, has two facets: one, attacked again and again. Two other
determining the part various individ bases of organization have been sug
uals shall play in planning; the other, gested as alternatives: children's in
deciding how the various elements en terests and needs, and some type of
tering into the curriculum, such as the social analysis such as areas of living
January, 1952 : 211
or social functions. In spile of con to curriculum work than the previous
tinued dissatisfaction with a curriculum ones. For the past low years a matter
organ i/ed around subjects, this con ol ma jor concern has been the "process"
tinues to he the dominant pattern. At whereby the curriculum is developed.
the same time experimentation con 1 his has been stimulated by a number
tinues with other approaches to or- of factors. One no doubt has been the
gani/ation, the core program possibly conviction that earlier efforts at cur
being the major variation given wide riculum improvement often tailed, or
trial at the present time. at least fell short of the goals set, be
Certain major changes in the cur cause of the means through which
riculum considered important by some change was sought. Decisions by indi
leaders cannot be achieved without viduals in positions of authority or by
modification of the basis of organi/a- small groups on matters affecting the
tion. Yet, extreme difficulties have been total teaching staff without doubt
encountered with every effort at such limited both the inclination and the
modification. Featherstone, in his re ability of the larger group to make
cent book, A Functional Curriculum, the desired changes.
contends that the conception of sub " Emphasis on the "process" has been
jects held by many curriculum workers furthered by widespread interest in
is inadequate. He presents a thoughtful group dynamics. Group processes have
analysis which indicates a level of ex been studied with greater care than
amination that would be highly desira ever before and some important in
ble of all the various factors entering sights have been achieved. Xe\v tech
into curriculum planning. niques of group organi/ation and pro
It seems clear that better resolution cedure have been devised which are
of the issues involved could be achieved being incorporated into curriculum
it understandings could be deepened work.
of factors such as the nature and func The result of these and other influ
tion of subjects, the significance of de ences has been substantial emphasis in
velopmental facts about children and curriculum development upon "pro
\outh for curriculum planning, and the cess." This emphasis has related both
relationship of social ideals, problems to the means employed in curriculum
and conditions to the educative process. programs to improve the curriculum,
The definition and discussion of such and the way teachers work with pupils
matters should lead toward clarification as the curriculum emerges in the class
of the basic issues in curriculum plan room.
ning, and should also suggest practices In fact, the emphasis has been so
holding promise for developing an im great as to raise the issue-of whether
proved curriculum. appropriate attention is being given to
what should be achieved. Not infre
Has Emphasis on Process Resulted in quently the impression is gained that
Too Little Attention to Objectives? the "process" is the whole show. So
The next problem to be discussed is much attention is sometimes given to
of more immediate origin as related organizing groups, to using recorders