"Potemkin schools" is used as the phrase to capture what a US science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) public speciality high school becomes as a result of its institutional branding. By way of an examination of the efforts of one teacher drawn into school branding through his "inquiry-based reform" of an Advanced Chemistry course,…

The goal of this paper is to introduce the curriculum strategy framework as a way to characterize teachers' interactions with curriculum materials. The framework focuses on three key interpretive activities: reading, evaluating, and adapting curriculum materials. Describing an individual teacher's curriculum strategy involves identifying the…

Discusses information from two surveys involving former and current curriculum commission members in the Federal Republic of Germany. Observes that, relative to task, composition, and trends, the basic pattern of curricular work has not changed in 20 years. Makes comments concerning the present state of curriculum work. (KO)

Outlines a "curricular" approach to learning difficulties against the background of traditional conceptions and practices relating to special needs in British schools, and in light of recent developments in "mainstream" curricula. Examines calls for change in the organization of learning, distinguishes mainstream from special…

Social Science was included in the Humanities curriculum to help students understand the nature of society and to understand the place of the individual in that society. Humanities studies had not been training students to make personal judgements about choices and consequences. (Author/JB)

Provides a model for curriculum development using constructivism to help democratize science education. Illustrates how to put this model into practice, focusing on: (1) expressing current conceptions; (2) sharing and learning new conceptions; and (3) applying and testing conceptions. (CMK)

Argues that objectives are indispensable in planning an educative environment. Examines the "process model" which shuns curricular objectives, because they restrict children's inquiry. Proposes a method which recognizes the necessity of objectives while avoiding the restrictions on children's freedom which those restrictions often impose. (GEA)

This paper outlines the results of a survey into the effects, during the 2 years following publication, of an official report--"Improving Mathematics Education 5-14"--on teaching and learning mathematics in Scottish schools. The purpose of the survey was to examine how the process of implementation worked its way down to the classroom…

Curiculum deliberation involves weighing and examining the reasons for and against a curriculum and giving careful consideration and mature reflection to choices. It also often involves considered action by a group of persons. The predominant forms of discourse--persuasive, theoretical, and descriptive--used to codify curriculum deliberations are…

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)

Maintains that Canadian scholar, Kieran Egan, developed a schema of childhood development that presents a bold, new approach to the stages of growth, both affectively and cognitively. Describes Egan's views and how the school curriculum must be adapted to correspond more closely to these views. (CFR)

Reports on a research development model designed to improve the teaching and learning of mathematics in the Dominican Republic. The model drew heavily upon the Missouri Mathematics Project. Discusses innovations in curriculum development, classroom instruction, and inservice teacher training. Includes statistical tables on student achievement and…

Maintains that previously held beliefs regarding subjects and pedagogy exert a strong influence on how national curriculum documents are interpreted and implemented. Discusses the conflict between various school cultures in England and National Curriculum geography curriculum reforms. Characterizes the various approaches and provides examples of…

Utilizes New York state's development and attempted implementation of multicultural education as a case study providing a concise yet thorough examination of the principles, objectives, and controversies surrounding this issue. Delineates the people and organizations involved in grass roots organizing and media representation on both sides of the…

Maintains that courses in curriculum studies should be evaluated on "why" they should be part of teacher education and "how" they should be taught. Asserts that curriculum studies occupies a more tenuous position in teacher education than do established disciplines such as sociology, philosophy, and psychology. (CFR)