School Curriculum History: World Curriculum and Instructional Theory

Author: (USA) Tanner
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-03-01
Features: This book begins with the birth of American school education from the European educational tradition and traces its unique formation of educational theories and practices. It showcases the struggles and efforts between various dualities such as dual-track vs. single-track, comprehensive curriculum vs. specialized curriculum, subject-centered vs. student-centered, traditional vs. modern, conservative vs. progressive, and theory vs. practice. The book consists of three parts. The first part primarily explores the historical academic essence of school curriculum, revealing the separation of the United States from the old European educational traditions and the adoption of new educational ideas by examining the early development of school curriculum. The second part focuses on significant transformations and reforms in school curriculum, meticulously depicting the formation and subsequent progressive educational reforms of the unique American educational theories and curriculum in line with the prospects of a democratic society. The third part narrates the efforts made to establish a reliable research foundation and professional consensus for emerging curriculum fields against the backdrop of massive social changes from the 1930s to the present. Meanwhile, the author also provides an in-depth reflection and evaluation of the American curriculum heritage: What have we learned? What do we base new curriculum development on? Which curriculum issues have troubled reformers for a century without resolution? Why are curriculum reforms pursued by educators in response to curriculum trends so fragile?