What Should We Teach

If you knew the future of your students and what they would become, how would you design instruction? What courses or instruction is needed to prepare children to become equal participants in a free society?

The problem of general education is finding the most appropriate common curriculum to meet the difficult requirements of honoring individuals while also serving the democratic purposes of society.

In our society, general education is provided in elementary school by offering a single board and comprehensive curriculum to all.

In secondary education, the problem of a general education is much harder. Students are ready for diversification and specialization. Educators see high school as the last chance to complete the task of general education.

Historical Perspectives

Committee of Ten Appointed by NEA to standardize the high school curriculum Appointed by NEA to standardize the high school curriculum Great detail about classics Great detail about classics Focus on science, English, math, social studies Focus on science, English, math, social studies Little to no concern for vocational study or the arts. Little to no concern for vocational study or the arts.

Commission on the Reorganization of Secondary Education Focus on what was needed in college and what was needed in life Focus on what was needed in college and what was needed in life Health Health Common expressions of writing Common expressions of writing Mathematics Mathematics Worthy home membership Worthy home membership Vocation Vocation Citizenship Citizenship Worthy use of leisure Worthy use of leisure Ethical Character Ethical Character

Harvard Study General Education in a Free Society General Education in a Free Society Goal is to help each person fulfill unique function in life and to become part of society Goal is to help each person fulfill unique function in life and to become part of society Basic general education was proposed for all Basic general education was proposed for all

Harvard Study Recommended three Carnegie Units - English, Science, and math - two in Social Studies Recommended three Carnegie Units - English, Science, and math - two in Social Studies Aim of all courses - think effectively, communicate thought, make relevant judgments, discriminate among value. Aim of all courses - think effectively, communicate thought, make relevant judgments, discriminate among value.

Best Curriculum for General Education

Opposing Positions of Curriculum Subject-centered curriculum Subject-centered curriculum Student-centered curriculum Student-centered curriculum Society - Centered curriculum Society - Centered curriculum

Subject-Centered Curriculum Proposes that education exists primarily to transmit formal knowledge to a new generation and prepare them to add to it. Proposes that education exists primarily to transmit formal knowledge to a new generation and prepare them to add to it. Support aims of education in Support aims of education in Literacy - Command of basic skills Literacy - Command of basic skills Critical thinking - problem solving Critical thinking - problem solving Good work habits Good work habits Desire to learn Desire to learn

Society-centered curriculum Survival and smooth functioning of society is what education is all about Survival and smooth functioning of society is what education is all about Historically America has taken this approach Historically America has taken this approach National identity from Europe National identity from Europe Moral lessons in the McGuffey readers Moral lessons in the McGuffey readers

Society-centered curriculum Supported aims such as: Supported aims such as: Civic Responsibility Civic Responsibility Vocational Preparation Vocational Preparation Development of Democratic Attitudes Development of Democratic Attitudes Health Health Personal and Social adjustment Personal and Social adjustment Ethical values and behavior Ethical values and behavior Concern for the welfare of others Concern for the welfare of others

Student-Centered Curriculum Focus on individual rights, talents, fulfillment, happiness, and individual social, economic, and intellectual advancement. Focus on individual rights, talents, fulfillment, happiness, and individual social, economic, and intellectual advancement.

Student-Centered Curriculum Favor aims such as: Favor aims such as: Self-realization Self-realization Self-esteem, emotional stability, mental health Self-esteem, emotional stability, mental health Creative expression Creative expression Individual talents Individual talents Health and Safety Health and Safety Wise use of leisure time Wise use of leisure time

A Balanced Approach General education is about students, society, and knowledge and if any is neglected, we all lose. General education is about students, society, and knowledge and if any is neglected, we all lose.