Curriculum Issues in the US

Gayle Y. Thieman, Ed.DGraduate School of Education

Portland State University1/24/2011

Gayle is….Former HS social studies

teacherFormer HS administratorAssociate Professor

Cohort leaderSocial StudiesInstruction/technology

Past President National Council for Social Studies

Wife, mother, grandparentand………

SPORTSWOMANSkiing Mt. Hood, ORHiking Denali Park, AKKayaking San Juans, WA

What is Curriculum?Who Creates Curriculum?

• Pair Share– Talk to the person next to you– Volunteers share your ideas

Curriculum is

• Recommended (state education departments & content organizations)

• Written (state standards, teaching manuals)• Tested (to determine if schools/students meet

criteria)• Hidden (taught indirectly)• Excluded (left out) • Taught• Learned

Curriculum is

• Preplanned• Based on theories & research about learning• Reflects cultural and political values, economic

issues , historic events• Integrated with instructional practice• Experienced by the learner

Theories of Learning

SubjectLearner

CenteredCentered

BehaviorismConstructivism

Direct InstructionInquiry

Mastery LearningCooperative Learning

Discrete SubjectsProject-Based Learning

Standardized TestsAuthentic Assessment

Where is your Teaching on the Continuum?

• Discuss at your table• Share with whole group

Levels of Cultural Influence

Goals of US Curriculum

• Citizenship and Democracy• Equal Educational Opportunities• Preparation for Career/College– Career Academies; Advanced Placement, Honors

• Critical Thinking– Literacy, Numeracy, Analysis

• Self Realization– Elective courses (arts, humanities, vocational

classes)

What are the goals of education in China?

• Discuss in small groups• Report Out

Past and Present Curriculum Forces

18th-20th centuries• Constitution said states

have responsibility for public education

• State departments of education control curriculum, materials, funding.

• Great inequality within and between states

21st century• Federal government

seeks national standards and “closing the achievement gap”

• Federal government has increasing control over education through funding and requirements for accountability and special programs

Influenced by Cultural Values & Historic Events

1960’s• Civil Rights Movement

– School Integration of white, black students

• Anti-Vietnam War Movement

• Anti-Poverty Program– Federal $ to improve

education of poor students– Federal government begins

to have more control

1970’s• Women’s Rights Movement

– More educational opportunities for females

• Rights of People with Disabilities– Free, appropriate public

education for all students with disabilities

• Rights of English Language Learners

• ELL programs

Economic Issues

1980’s• Nation At Risk Report

said US students could not compete globally– Increased graduation

requirements & teacher standards

• National Educational Goals– US should be first in the

world in math, science

• 1990’s

President and business leaders called for national standards to raise student achievement, but states still controlled curriculum and testing

2000-presentNCLB Dominates Public Education

Expanded role of the federal government and requirement that all states test students at 3, 5, 8, 10 grade

Emphasis on standardized tests, sanctions against schools if students fail to make “adequate yearly progress”

http://www.stthomas.edu/magazine/2009/Winter/NCLB.html

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Obama Plan promises more flexibility with accountability for student learning