1. Ed Hirsch & the NJ Core Curriculum Content Standards Team 5: Alexis, Julie, Amba & Kristin

2. Important Points in Cultural Literacy The importance of literacy has grown within the past decade. – only highly literate societies can prosper economically (Hirsch, 1986). Only 2/3 of the United States is literate. Cultural literacy or world knowledge is an essential component to gain full literacy. – Having background knowledge of the material you are reading is the only way to truly understand the content.

3. Why is literacy so important in society? Basic Reasons: – Filling out forms, completing job applications, reading instructions (medicine, cooking, driving etc). Complex Reasons: – Cooperating with a variety of people from different cultures, socioeconomic backgrounds, etc. – National communication for business, travel, finances, etc.

4. Pragmatic Traditionalist Philosophy in Education Relating the educational lesson to the bigger picture in the community. Preparing students for personal development and leadership ability in order to develop workplace readiness skills. Focusing on critical thinking and problem solving skills. Integration of subjects for overall comprehension of material. Importance of interaction with environment and society.

5. NJ Core Curriculum Content Standards How is Cultural Literacy Incorporated? Language Arts Literacy: – STANDARD 3.1 (READING) ALL STUDENTS WILL UNDERSTAND AND APPLY THE KNOWLEDGE OF SOUNDS, LETTERS, AND WORDS IN WRITEN ENGLISH TO BECOME INDEPENDENT AND FLUENT READERS AND WILL READ A VARIETY OF MATERIALS AND TEXTS WITH FLUENCY AND COMPREHENSION. – 3.1.12.G.4 Analyze how works of a given period reflect historical and social events and conditions. – 3.1.12.G.19 Demonstrate familiarity with everyday texts such as job and college applications, W-2 forms, contracts, etc. The examples above are related to cultural literacy because: – The students are expected to use critical thinking and relate what they are reading to social events of the time. – The students are being prepared for workplace readiness and life skills by being exposed to everyday texts.

6. Proponents of E. D. Hirschs Cultural Literacy to Raise Literacy Claims Places emphasis on schools to require teaching a core body of facts and traditional lore about the mainstream national culture. Redesigning and splitting the curriculum to two parts

7. The Splitting of Curriculum a) Extensive Curriculum- Imparting facts of his literacy list to give knowledge (shared information) b) Intensive Curriculum- Imparting skills and abstract scheme (permitting in comprehensive study of individual texts or specific information) in subject areas of language arts, fine arts, history, geography, mathematics, science, and technology

8. Why Split Curricula? Students need common base, vocabulary (background knowledge) to communicate and gain fundamentals to be effective Encourages experiential learning and engages critical dialogue Prepares students to manage complexities existing in pluralistic society and work place

9. Why not Integrate Cultural Literacy? Encourages segregated learning environments Perpetuates zero sum perception Criticizes progressive education and goals of formalism Promotes rote memorization and demotes teaching how to learn Imposing Cultural Literacy that is not common to all is undemocratic

10. Questions to Cultural Literacy Who defines the Cultural Literacy List? Should the list be national culture or world culture?

11. Criticism against Cultural Literacy Emphasis on vast sampling of rudimentary concept on a wide range of subject areas (language arts, fine arts, history, geography, mathematics, science, and technology) Least emphasis on in depth knowledge Denigrating and devaluing sensitivity to other minority groups and issues by forcing one size fits all single culture

12. References Hirsch, E (1986). The Decline of Literature Knowledge. Cultural Literacy, Chapter 1. The New Jersey Department of Education, New Jersey Core Curriculum Content Standards. Retrieved October 23, 2008, from http://www.state.nj.us/education/cccs/index.html. Rollins College, (1997). Towards a Pragmatic Liberal Education. Retrieved October 23, 2008, Web site: http://www.rollins.edu/colloquy/colloquy1997/philosophy.html http://www.rollins.edu/colloquy/colloquy1997/philosophy.html