Building on and going beyond Young and Muller's theory of powerful knowledge, this article seeks to articulate a model of a future-oriented, knowledge-rich curriculum by invoking David Lambert's "capabilities" approach and "Bildung"-centred "Didaktik." The curriculum is "knowledge rich" in three respects.…

The paper identifies three tools that support the administrative instrument of a state-based curriculum commission: compartmentalization, licensing, and segmentation. These tools channel the state's curriculum-making towards forms of symbolic rather than regulatory action. The state curriculum becomes a framework for the ideological governance of…

What are the basic things that compose curriculum, and what are the questions that may be posed about these things? Joseph Schwab's conception of curriculum is used to introduce a scheme of questions concerning the nature, elements, and practice of curriculum. Formulations of questions by other curriculum theorists are reviewed and analysed in…

One of the missions of a university is the creation and dissemination of knowledge. Because this work is traditionally divided among scores or even hundreds of academic and research units for the convenience of the producing scholars and the orderly retrieval of this knowledge, the problem of introducing university students to the world of…

The classroom experience contains an infinite number of variables that cannot realistically be related to in any manageable teacher's manual. When manuals aim at being "practical", what is produced is often something that looks like practicality, but is not. Curriculum-writing needs a new approach, intended to educate teacher rather than students.…

Describes and analyzes the Nigerian Secondary Schools Science Project which was adapted for use in the school system by the University of Lagos, Nigeria. Found that imprecision and lack of coherence in stating performance objectives led to confusion in interpretation by teachers. (KO)

Reflects upon Army education during the Second World War and discusses the seemingly constant contradictions of the program. Provides insight into this important period in curriculum history in order to make clear the realities of the system. Considers the influence of Army education on the post-war schooling system of Great Britain. (KO)

Considers liberal feminism focusing on its advances and limitations. Addresses dualism as connected to the history and theorizing of feminism. Argues that curriculum is overdetermined by the dualism feminist theory. Addresses and offers four categories descriptive of the dualism (experiential, categorical, psychoanalytic, and deconstructive). (CMK)

Draws on the new field of mathematical study called fractal geometry. Illustrates the pervasiveness and constraining tendencies of classical geometries. Suggests that fractal geometry is a mathematical analogue to fields such as post-modernism, post-structuralism, and ecological theory. Examines how fractal geometry can complement other emergent…

Discusses the issues of a curriculum of literacy in Canada. Describes the influence of educational trends in the United States and Great Britain. Suggests that the literacy problem is not such a crisis as the media makes it appear. Urges a union of educational and scholarly concerns, building on lessons of history and theory. (DK)

Reports the results of an empirical study in corporate education on the use of standards to design educational programs conducted from 1989 to 1993. Provides a conceptual framework on curriculum consistency. Examines whether the main research questions were answered and whether they can be generalized to a larger context. (CMK)

Studying the history of the development of different subjects in the school curriculum can help us better understand the social processes involved, as well as the theoretical issues. The attempt to have environmental studies recognized as an A-level subject in British secondary schools is discussed as an example. (IS)

Examines "The National Curriculum 5-16: A Consultation Document" that became law in 1988. Outlines the document's content and argues that the document offers solutions to various problems without demonstrating how the solutions address the problems. Raises some issues about the ownership and control of educational institutions. (GG)

Asserts that many educators do not hold curriculum studies in high regard. Reviews the "Handbook of Research on Curriculum," published by the American Educational Research Association. Concludes that the volume will serve the interests of researchers but not other constituents within the curriculum community. (CFR)

Provides an introduction to the German educational theory of didaktik. Didaktik emphasizes critical thinking incorporated into content instruction. Although originally developed in the 19th century, didaktik has enjoyed renewed popularity within the last 10 years. Discusses the history of the theory and its impact on U.S. pedagogy. (MJP)