Curriculum and Aims Hinking About title: Education Series author: Walker, Decker F.; Soltis, Jonas F. publisher: Teachers College Press isbn10 | asin: 0807736759 print isbn13: 9780807736753 ebook isbn13: 9780585255323 language: English Education--Aims and objectives--United subject States, Education--United States--Curricula, Curriculum planning--United States. publication date: 1997 lcc: LA217.2.W35 1997eb ddc: 370.973 Education--Aims and objectives--United subject: States, Education--United States--Curricula, Curriculum planning--United States. Page i THINKING ABOUT EDUCATION SERIES THIRD EDITION Jonas F. Soltis, Editor The revised and expanded Third Edition of this series builds on the strengths of the previous editions. Written in a clear and concise style, these books speak directly to preservice and in-service teachers. Each offers useful interpretive categories and thought-provoking insights into daily practice in schools. Numerous case studies provide a needed bridge between theory and practice. Basic philosophical perspectives on teaching, learning, curriculum, ethics, and the relation of school to society are made readily accessible to the reader. PERSPECTIVES ON LEARNING D. C. Phillips and Jonas F. Soltis THE ETHICS OF TEACHING Kenneth A. Strike and Jonas F. Soltis CURRICULUM AND AIMS Decker F. Walker and Jonas F. Soltis SCHOOL AND SOCIETY Walter Feinberg and Jonas F. Soltis APPROACHES TO TEACHING Gary D. Fenstermacher and Jonas F. Soltis Page iii Curriculum and Aims THIRD EDITION Decker F. Walker Stanford University Jonas F. Soltis Teachers College, Columbia University Teachers College, Columbia University New York and London Page iv Published by Teachers College Press, 1234 Amsterdam Avenue, New York, NY 10027 Copyright © 1997 by Teachers College, Columbia University Previous editions published by Teachers College Press in 1986 and 1992. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission from the publisher Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Walker, Decker F. Curriculum and aims / Decker F. Walker, Jonas F. Soltis. 3rd ed. p. cm.(Thinking about education series) Includes bibliographical references (p. ). ISBN 0-8077-3675-9 (pbk. : alk. paper) 1. EducationAims and objectivesUnited States. 2. Education United StatesCurricula. 3. Curriculum planningUnited States. I. Soltis, Jonas F. II. Title. III. Series LA217.2.W35 1997 375'.001'0973dc21 97-22594 ISBN 0-8077-3675-9 (paper) Printed on acid-free paper Manufactured in the United States of America 04 03 02 01 00 99 98 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 Page v Contents Acknowledgments ix Chapter 1 1 The Teacher and the Curriculum Ambivalent Feelings About Curriculum Work 2 Finding Time and Resources for Curriculum Work 3 Who Has the Authority to Make Curriculum Decisions? 4 When Is a Curriculum Change a Change for the Better? 6 Preparing for Curriculum Work 9 Chapter 2 12 The Aims of Education Aims as Ideals 13 Progressive and Traditional Perspectives on Curriculum 18 Curriculum Theory 23 Chapter 3 25 General Education Teaching the Basics 26 Historical Precedents 27 Relating School to Life 31 In Search of the Best Curriculum for General Education 33 The Value of Different Perspectives 36 Chapter 4 39 Conceptualizing Curriculum Phenomena Knowledge in Use 41 Conceptualizing the Instructional Process 43 The Structure of Subjects 46 Page vi Meaningful Learning Experiences 46 Program Conceptualization 48 Chapter 5 53 Procedures for Curriculum Making Sources of Curriculum Making 53 The Tyler Rationale 55 Schwab's Practical and Eclectic Approach 59 Freire's Emancipation Approach 61 The Politics of Curriculum Making 63 Chapter 6 66 Explaining and Critiquing Curriculum Practices A Critique of the Tyler Rationale 67 Curriculum and Criticism of Modern Life 69 Understanding How Curriculum Works in the 70 Classroom Curriculum in Relation to Culture 72 Chapter 7 77 Cross-Currents of Reform The Anatomy of Reforms 80 Reform and Incremental Change 81 Teachers and Reform 86 Who's in Charge of the Curriculum? 87 The American Curriculum Influence System 89 Is Reform a Good Thing? 91 Reform: Pros and Cons 93 Working with Reform 94 Chapter 8 97 Cases and Disputes Curriculum Change 99 Freedom and Learning 100 Education for Life 101 Workforce School 103 Individual Differences and Equality of Opportunity 104 Mass or Class Culture? 105 National Reports on Education 106 Go Fly a Kite 107 Individualized Learning 109 Grading Policies 110 A Social Studies Curriculum 111 To Each His Own 112