Several questions and issues addressed sixty years ago at the NCSS conference in Dallas are indistinguishable from present concerns, which focus on three concepts: citizenship, social studies/social science, and how to define social problems. Concludes that the social studies movement was predisposed to work at cross-purposes because of the…

The acting president of Foxfire reflects on organizational changes during its 35-year history--changes from a local organization focused on a new way to teach high school English, to a national organization focused on educational reform, to a regional organization focused on teacher support and cultural heritage. A 35-year timeline is included.…

In American schools today there are a number of legacies from historical and cultural traditions. Writing construction in United States elementary schools was primarily in penmanship even into the first decades of the 20th century. Composition courses were introduced into the college curriculum during the late 1800s when a required freshman…

Argues that traditional English methods of deciding what to teach have been more pragmatic than either U.S. "Curriculum Theory" or German "Didaktik," both emphasizing principled arguments about educational goals. Observes that English schooling continues to be shaped by discussion of subject-based methods rather than…

Reviews social studies curricula developed for classroom use since the 1890s. Examines six categories of differing recommendations. Reveals disparate conceptualizations of what constitutes useful knowledge to attain citizenship objectives. Defines classroom practice as the bottom line, citing findings from recent National Science Foundation…

A report of the Commission on University Purpose of The University of Alberta, Canada, is presented. Based on the perceptions of the various publics, the Commission sought to clarify the purposes and functions of the university. After an introductory section on the historical development of universities and The University of Alberta, changing…

This report is intended to provide school authorities with information useful in arranging courses of study and in providing proper conditions, to assist teachers in choosing instructional materials and in handling them according to the best teaching methods available, and to lay a foundation for articulating the movement for improved teaching of…

Examination of Australia's educational history reveals the origins of three traditions of school mathematics: (1) many groups of society will not benefit from mathematics beyond arithmetic; (2) the purpose of mathematics is preparation for higher education; and (3) rote methods, rigid curriculum, prescribed texts, and written examinations are…

Based on the belief that schooling is now too often a trivial pursuit or a mechanical exercise, this book argues that the inherent value and substance of learning has been lost and needs to be restored. The book begins by portraying the American education of an earlier part of this century when schools created a coherent, stable, unified culture…

The discovery and deciphering of the Rosetta stone led to a rediscovery of Egypt's contribution to world culture and civilization. This document outlines the growth of knowledge and education in ancient Egypt and emphasizes the disciplines of science, medicine, art, philosophy, agriculture, and engineering. Ancient Egypt's decline and the…

Contemporary society is facing rapid and fundamental changes, and educators must take the lessons of the past and shape a plan for the future. This article traces curriculum trends from the late nineteenth century to the present, showing how the aims of education adapted to the changing conditions and social forces. (DCS)

The National Committee on Mathematical Requirements was organized in the late summer of 1916 under the auspices of the Mathematical Association of America for the purpose of giving national expression to the movement for reform in the teaching of mathematics, which had gained considerable headway in various parts of the country, but which lacked…

In West Africa, international studies were overstressed under colonial rule, while native African traditions and languages were neglected. Educational reforms are underway to remedy that situation. In the United States, national studies have been overemphasized and global education underemphasized. (PP)

Offers an account of three "waves" of writing assessment: objective tests, holistic scoring, and portfolios. Scrutinizes these modes of assessment for how they can serve needs beyond the institutional demands of sorting and selecting students, to discover what they can tell educators about writing, teaching, and courses and programs. (SR)

The history and accomplishments of the National Education Goals Panel (NEGP) are traced from the Education Summit in Charlottesville (Virginia) in 1989 when President Bush and 50 state governors agreed to set education goals for the nation. The goals were announced in February 1990, and the NEGP was formed in July 1990 to issue annual reports on…