Harvard Tug of War team, 1888 There were so many ideas on what
was the best approach to American curriculum that it created a
much-heated debate.
Slide 2
John Dewey His philosophy did not fit into any one of the four
major theories. He became a leading figure in American educational
thought Ideas centered around the experiences and development of
the child Although his ideas were not put to use, his influence is
felt today.
Slide 3
Social Efficiency Education John Franklin Bobbitt Frederick
Winslow Taylor Students would be tested and then educated with
their predicted societal role in mind. In using education as an
efficiency tool, society could be controlled.
Slide 4
Vocational schools and junior high schools were created to
better equip students for their predetermined role in society. Not
every student was meant to go to college. Some were meant to be
farmers, cooks, or factory workers.
Slide 5
Social Meliorists With the Great Depression arose the Social
Meliorists. Social reform could be brought about by education. An
individuals future was not predetermined, but could be improved
with education.
Slide 6
Seven Principles of Progressive Education 1.Freedom to develop
naturally 2.Interest: The motive for all work 3.The teacher a
guide, not a task master 4.Scientific study of pupil development
5.Greater attention to all that affects the childs physical
development 6.Cooperation between school and home to meet the needs
of child-life 7.The progressive school a leader in educational
movements
Slide 7
The United States gained a renewed sense of patriotism with the
advent of World War II. School curriculum was centered around the
war effort. First aid training & nursing Recycling projects Red
Cross work Aeromechanics, aeronautics, auto mechanics, navigation,
and gunnery
Slide 8
During World War II 70% of the armed forces had an eighth-
grade education in comparison to only 20% of the armed forces
during World War I.
Slide 9
Following World War II, secondary schools became abundant and
social efficiency was once again on the forefront of Americas
educational system.
Slide 10
Following World War II the curriculum in American included the
following areas of study: Algebra, Geometry English, literature
Modern foreign languages Science & biology
Slide 11
The Cold War was in full effect when, on 5 October 1957, the
Soviet Union launched the Sputnik. The American educational system
was seen as soft and it was determined that the curriculum had to
be more challenging, especially in the maths and sciences. The
Space Race had begun!
Slide 12
Jerrold Zacharias Professor of physics at Massachusetts
Institute of Technology Headed up the Physical Sciences Study
Committee, which sought to restructure the American science
curriculum Leader of science curriculum reform in America
Slide 13
Social MelioristsDevelopmentalistsHumanists Social Efficiency
educators Curriculum is like a circle: What goes around comes
around.
Slide 14
As long as man has the capacity to reason and the freedom to
think, the debate over the appropriate curriculum will be ongoing
and forever changing.
Slide 15
Kliebard, H. M. (2004). The struggle for the American
curriculum: 1893 - 1958 (Third ed. ). New York: RoutledgeFalmer.
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