EX)DUCATION WEEK Newspaper af Record ‘Volume VIII, Number 9 November 2, 1988 \ | » Says | Study by Boards Views Curriculum as Schools’ ‘Fatal Flaw’ By Robert Rothman, | ‘Anational panel of state-bourd members ere eee Epprceehbars ae totalled Carnegie units, or the “seat time” | seudents spend in various subject areas. ‘The curriculum study group of the Na- ee na pare | eames students to meet defined performance stan- ae ‘Dorothy Beardmore, vice president of the Michigan Bourd of Education and chair- man of the study group, sid the panel was “uring to move away from the position that says you have to have, for example, four ‘years of English, with no mention at all of ‘whut you were supposed to have learned ster spending four years in sowething called “English * ‘The group's report charges that. weak seawedin the curnculum and instruction of- fered in most schools constitute “the fatal flaw in the American education system.” It, ‘. it broad-rouching Siz.ec'S See ince deat Coal.of Essen: posed revision Stent madd up ol is « of yi Tred ureas—language arta, mathematics 4, ‘und science, citizenship, fine arta, health, and foreign languageé—which would be ‘taught, the report says, in ways “that lead oan understanding of these subjecta, rath: Oe ea Praject’ han uauiring auperticial knawl ‘lye in many broad arena” Whateuruntrfarm effort have seglted inthe document changes of course require. tena that inhibit elective tauch- ing und learning” We have had Eve yeanof ying todow skering approach wid Ma. Beardinore, “have recommenda. tions have not been substantive fought rake the kinds of ime provements people expected and wll expect” ‘The oper, “Rathinking Curriow Jun A Call fr Pundammental er form,” recominends changes i instructional practices to develop shudenta higher-order thinking dikcaneerhuul teenage ee er ur aducnisnal objectives”? nd tore Next in clas chet vo permit 0 cover yubjects in ih Reskearre it while state reforms will bo needed to uthieve theve goals, the report suiys, local schools must re tuin free te make whatever Achieve tha broad ajectiven™ ‘The study group acknowledged {hat is proposals may be dificult ta implement and sr likely to encoun- ter reistanoe from “entrenched bur reaucracios, weer alr petal isa, und employes organizations.” Mut the pice of fang ack, the | uel aed tan high: lange ane berv of atudeata unprepared for work or highor wiucaion, oF slion- ‘edtrom echo! tothe point pana | by dropping out “Finally,” Uhsir report warns, | ‘even the survival of democracy could threatened ussciey isbur dened by increwing eumbers of un- ‘eremplayed and unemployed work- fers and political candidates are | fitted withnsaesof undredcated, sintered your“ Cover) 2 1988 Edivorial Projects in NOTE Fy eee “Another problem is created when time itself, as in the case of the Carnegie Unit, becomes an essential condition in the definition and granting of a ‘unit’ of credit." Ouccome- based Instructional Management: NIE Contract P-80-0194, "School should not bind itself to ‘credit hours’..." Theodore R. Sizer, Director, Coalition for Essential Schools, Conmon Principles, 1986. A kk tk tk RRR RRR EH For further information on what is happening, who is responsible, and why the various components of the reform movement, i.¢. critical thinking, mastery learn— |ing, etc. are eusential for /implenentation of the interna- tional curriculum, buy: BACK TO BASICS REFORM. SKINNERIAN INTERNATIONAL jeu OR tor 4 Union Street Camden, Maine 04843aie sya Io Pailinig” ‘The 16member study group wan termed at Sanaiy by haan ine sponse lo concems thatthe schol ‘eform movement has overlooked hat the eprt call erie com- ponent to improving schoole—the Content ofthe erica,” While states have increased grid ation requirements and inp bev testing mandates, the report Cove, ewe rls have often had the harmil effect of ragmenting the curriculum and increasing the ‘ponition of mbjectmater man- dates Moreowr, twats, “ther i vo evdeoce atthe reformat fe nat schieving our objective of anniring ‘bat al atadente leave echoo with Ae atitodes, Knowle, and sila they need to pure further educa: tin or employment” “Simply put,” it says, “the school sys fling to edcata a large proportion of American chien" Tn seeking answer tothe probe les, Ms. Beardmore au, tbe panel ‘unberyagreed “witha 16 snutog of our fit isting to broaden a ie “You can't look at curriculum, sveinng, sea0o! organizauon, struction, and instructional materi- ‘als in isolation,” she said. “You've {0t to look at the whole fild. And you have to make sure whatever ‘changes you make in ane area donot ‘edyernely affect another.” Core Currloulum In ita most sweeping proposal, the sunita, * Tn place of auch’ system, the panel proposed a core curriculum in which teachers would address “fewer subjecta rigorously and in greater depth.” "ur the cane of hustory, oF scams - ple," the report states, “it afar mare Important that studonta understand For example, iturged that states ‘sfaw contral thermos euch aa states’ | | gbotish current practices that pro- righta versus federaliam) thaa to | | tote the alignment’ of textbooks master @ eat of names, places, pod | | With esta and curricula and require datea* torts to adhere to wirict “readability ‘Achieving such a shift would ry- | | frmulaa” Such policies bave ld to quire substantial change in in- | | Sor-quality textbooke that hamper siructional practices it adds, ree- | | ingtruetion and discourage chil- ommending that teachera place | | aren’sinterent in reading, the report treater emphasis on student prec agptationg and dialogues, “hands- on" experiences, crowdisciplinary learning, and cooperative and peer s that develo a cre teaching. ‘hand thinking skills, it suggests, LEARNING Teachertraining institutions} | F2oher haa meliple-chotee tots oy rust algo change their teaching’| | that meamure bang ceils and facta. | practices and develop partnerships | | slinformatio. ‘th acaba to Delp teachers mapl Implementing al the propa the {a new metbods, the report sare. | rept ten “will agi wool toa | Rutitadie tat AUF owe rien | Petr aprtun gifeny” are not frthooming, ate boarla | ""S5eCifeaily, the panel reco ‘ust oonidar alternative ways to a eke ‘. ‘ A fury affective teachar and admin, ani a eis ald moa SS cv!S ec ergs | Sarco se manne (cer. me ‘ le the 45-minute period & ~ mays, “would be to change teacher- ‘schools can alo bene- | —¢ cxteadan neuen” Boge peprs Ee ar “Alter Operations? Wen Such aproposal according the | Schools ort "woud permite retuton i Noting that textbooks and tanta | Tar, would permi sre welt tnuats tee | aim tem ome | up also proposed reforming the | perative- learning, schoolwide COMPETITION “ry book are acid and tanta | gberaive teaming, schosi=ide tiv odmislered in onder to pre. | Bopsand emma pric eee CES. | promis eran arty learning. ; ‘Sal-out fr remedial inert.” 4 "Copies of "Rethinking Gurricu- {ORDER THIS ume"A Cal br Pundaseatal Be REPORT. fem areavable rec on wasne, 1012 Cameron St, Alexan- jem Va. 22314, ‘IP YOU WANT A SUPERB ONE-HOUR VHS VIDEO OF NATIONAL CITIZENS ALLIANCE NEWS CONFERENCE AT NATIONAL PRESS CLUB, WASHINGTON, D.C., AUGUST 12, 1988, SEND $20.00 TO: “CHARLOTTE T. ISERBYT, 4 UNION ST., CAMDEN, ME. 04843. (THES CONFERENCE COVERED MAJOR PROBLEMS IN EDUCATION TODAY AND REQUESTED A CONGRESSIONAL INVESTIGATION, THE VIDEO SHOULD BE SHOWN TO LOCAL CIVIC AND RELIGIOU: GROUPS IN ORDER FOR CITIZENS TO UNDERSTAND EXACTLY WHAT IS GOING ON IN OUR COUNTRY "IN THE NAME OF EDUCATION.”