In 1970, Joseph Schwab published the first of four papers that argued for a turn to the idea of the Practical in curriculum research and practice. In this paper, I revisit Schwab's original paper and explore the extent to which his case for the Practical is still relevant today. I first look at the past of the deliberative tradition in which…

This study examines the usage and contexts of "wellbeing" in New Zealand's curriculum, a formal statement of education policy enacted by a democratically elected government. The analysis is guided by a current model of student wellbeing rooted in seven, interdependent domains: "Having," "Being," "Relating,"…

Human beings ought to use critical reflection to define and decide their courses of action. This paper examines the use of attention-seeker questions in the framework of critical pedagogy purposely to study the way some Ugandan teachers are constrained in their practice by their lack of participation in developing the school curriculum. This…

This paper explores the intersection of curriculum studies/curriculum history/curriculum theory through the study of systems of reason that order reflection and action. Words about "learning", "empowerment", "problem-solving", "self-realization", "community", and so on, are not merely there in order that educators should "grasp" some reality to…

Although post-structuralists within curriculum studies have examined many contexts of curriculum theory, they have been silent on disability. This silence is worthy of study, especially because of the growing significance of disability studies in the humanities and the social sciences. I question post-structuralist arguments in curriculum theory…

Those in the field of curriculum have failed to conduct the empirical research needed to clarify the nature of the phenomena and problems which are addressed. (Author)

This is a philosophical exploration of the role of educational conventions guiding teacher behavior. Although concepts like basic skills and grade level influence teacher decisions about daily teaching activities, they can also serve as conceptual points of departure when teachers decide to innovate. (AM)

Discusses John Dewey's concept of curriculum, as applied in his Laboratory School. Describes the planning of the school and how its curriculum evolved over time. Identifies both Dewey's belief in educational specialization and his understanding of its limits. Notes the implications of Dewey's work for today's educators. (SG)

Curriculum instruction in teacher education, the role and independence of the curriculum and the self-perception of the teacher in regard to curriculum development are identified as three problem areas in the relation of teachers to curriculum. (Author/KM)

Reports an experiment which tests the hypothesis that the process of curriculum development affects the resulting curriculum. Describes developed models of curriculum. Concludes that the hypothesis cannot be rejected and that curriculum models do influence the resulting curriculum. (KO)

Explores curriculum developers' differing opinions before they design a specific curriculum; the amount of convergence of opinion caused by curriculum deliberations; and the retention of that convergence. Finds that, despite frequent discrepancies of opinion before curriculum conferences on design issues, subsequent deliberations produced a high…

Examines the social and cultural conditions in which U.S. art education was constructed, considering the social interests that underlay its formation. Traces curriculum theory from around 1870 to the present. States that the history of curriculum involves a story of social transformation, political interests, and economic agendas. (GEA)

Traces public and political interest in curriculum change in U.S. public schools from the late 1800s to the mid-1900s. Findings indicate that, in general, increased levels of expectation regarding the power of schools continued unabated during this period. Suggestions are presented regarding topics for additional educational research. (DB)

Describes curricular and pedagogical experimentation in humanities and social studies instruction conducted in New Zealand immediately after World War II. Compares such developments with the Freyberg Integrated Studies Project, a later three-year curriculum development and research program. Concludes that the Freyberg model provides support for…

Examines educational history to discover the process by which curriculum became a universal idea and how the concept of the classroom was invented. Argues that universal ideas and inventions such as the classroom result in the creation of dominant institutional categories that exert a powerful influence over what can or cannot be done by…