Book Description
Curriculum is not a naturally occurring substance but is created, and has a framework that outlines its nature. Many professionals, such as architects, use frameworks or designs in order to define the nature of what they will create. This monograph asserts that curriculum architecture should be debated, changed, and created to take form from the human mind. The chapters in the monograph are: (1) "The Change Imperative," asserting that it is time for educators to embrace change and exploring how students have changed over the past 20 years; (2) "The Reasoned Imperative," detailing rituals of schooling and newer educational principles; (3) "The Direction of Change" asserting that the purpose of education has changed; (4) "Architecture," calling for a new metaphor for education, discussing four categories of educational reformers--revolutionaries, revisionists, reductionists, and reactionaries--and discussing ways of defining curriculum and creating a "curriculum architecture" using Holman Elementary School in St. Louis County (Missouri) as a model; (5) "Pitfalls," on situations in which design issues were determined in an inappropriate decision-making process; (6) "Living in the Question," dealing with issues of tracking, level of teaming, equity, retention, and standardized test scores; (7) "Getting Started," outlining 13 steps for curriculum design and change; and (8) "Taking an Individual Path," on maintaining equilibrium in the midst of those who say change cannot be accomplished. Contains 27 references. (BGC)
