The History of Curriculum in America, Part I

Greene, K. (2009, June 5). History of Curriculum in America, Part 1 [Video file]. Retrieved from       http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tx_VFbQznco

Chole' Tiscornia

12/5/12

Summary:

 

This is the first of a four video presentation on the History of Curriculum in America. Starting in the 18^th century Greene sets the stage for the inception of what we currently refer to as our education system. The New England colonies were organized by Puritans, which meant that the whole purpose of education was to learn to read so students could be taught religious beliefs and avoid cultural decline in the savage land. This is truly a great opening and hook. The first American schools were of groups of families with money, basically. Education was not a right so much as it was a responsibility. Early curriculum was set around survival studies, which we commonly refer to also as reading, writing, and arithmetic, or the three R’s. For extra money, students could learn other subjects.

 

From there, Greene takes us through important decades in education reform. The 1830’s brought Horace Mann and Henry Barnard, who redefined the common school. State’s started licensing teachers, and standardized curricula and methods began. The 1830’s brought about immigration where many settlers moved west, so standards were a way to ensure those leaving the New England area would continue to conform to the Puritan purpose. Soon, the Department of Education was established with the purpose of sharing best practices, give out grants, and help schools get ahead, but also to share the Anglo-Saxon frame of mind. Other changes occurred including acts that solidified the goal of high schools as a stepping stone to college, and the committee of ten (men) who ensured the curriculum was based on the survival courses, void of arts, sports, or vocational classes.

In 1909, progressive voices helped curricula change from memorization to something of tangible value. John Dewey, who felt that students learn by doing, was followed by the Carnegie units, a standard of acceptable instruction still used today. Additionally, the progressives welcomed the Cardinal Units of Secondary Education, 1919, because subjects included were health, vocation, and civic education, among others. Also at this time, after WWI, a sense of solidarity among Americans began to immerge and dances, drama, and sports were added to build cohesion.  

Evaluation:

Although these videos are snapshots of the history of education, they never-the-less informed me in a straight-forward, comprehensible way. I know there is more to the story, and I need to question what parts of history are left out of the lesson, but I believe the points, dates, and influential people are accurate. Greene’s sifting of all the components that started our educational journey to arrive at her hypothesis is a fun adventure.   

 History of Curriculum in America, Part I