This report summarizes the major findings of a study of 26 California high schools. The study, Paths through High School, was conducted to describe the characteristics of high school curricula in California, how they are determined and how they differ for various groups of students. Chapter 1 describes the state, district, and school levels of…

Realizing that the society in which today's young people are taking their place is complex and characterized by both continuity and change, this paper voices the need for improving social studies education. Social studies programs should focus on the learning which young people need for participation in society and which public welfare requires.…

The Standards of Learning Program for Virginia Public Schools is designed to identify what students are expected to accomplish, to provide a method for determining what has been learned, and to encourage teachers to give additional instruction when needed. This document provides a broad framework for science programs and specifically identifies…

Designed as a model to aid school districts as they develop and review their own curriculum guides, this secondary level fine arts guide is divided into four sections covering visual arts, music, drama, and dance. Each of the four sections follows a standard format. A preface describes the goals of fine arts education in Alaska and the…

In the early 1980's the Papua New Guinea Department of Education developed a plan to supplement the existing academic curriculum of the four elite matriculation colleges (Grades 11-12) with experiences that gave some initiation into the design and use of technology and some understanding of its impact. The planners encountered difficulties of…

When designing a contemporary curriculum in communication, it is important to adapt the specific set of skills and knowledge to the needs of the marketplace. The change in the transformation from speech to communication to communication/information technology is reflected in the various names of university departments. Schools that have changed…

This study analyzes the development of English language use in Singapore (using the 1970 and 1980 censuses), examines the primary school English syllabus, and discusses the implications of primary school English instruction of pre-school children whose parents are English-educated. It is concluded that the increasing tendency for Singapore…

From a practical, eclectic, and teacher-centered vantage point, this paper reviews previous attempts to classify curriculum development processes, proposes an analytic schema for examing such processes, and explicates an alternative process which has been found to be effective in working with teachers. First, critical distinctions are drawn…

Jonathan Culler's notion, that each change of perspective a reader makes brings something different from the text, is explored by using four curricula. They are: the traditional language arts curriculum, an active reading comprehension curriculum, a psychology curriculum, and a feminist curriculum. By analyzing the same text, "Snow White and…

In response to a recognition of the differing needs and educational goals of non-college-bound and college-bound rural high school students, this guide presents the English curriculum for non-college-bound students (called "general English") adopted at Arenac Eastern High School (Michigan). Chapter 1 explains the background and purpose of the…

Faculty beliefs about educational purpose and the nature of their academic field strongly influence how they plan introductory courses. Significantly different conceptions of educational purpose among faculty in different fields may inhibit agreement on plans for curricular coherence and ways of communicating expectations to students. Interviews…

The three-year Spanish program curriculum guide for Alberta public high schools outlines: (1) program objectives reflecting the basic education goals as well as a rationale for including Spanish in a school program; (2) specific minumum expectations for each language skill (listening, speaking, reading, and writing) and for cultural understanding…

Presented from a feminist perspective, the document describes five interactive phases of curricular revision. Each phase occupies a different level on a "broken pyramid" hierarchical structure representing different ways in which women are included in curriculum. In such a structure, winners are few and near the peak; losers many and…

This paper describes a series of courses in technical librarianship in Israel. Upon successful completion of these courses and the relevant examinations, students receive certification as non-academic librarians from the Israel Library Association's special educational committee. Two levels of courses are briefly described: Level A--the basic…

Research offers important suggestions concerning science curriculum design, and real-time data collection technology offers great opportunities. This paper discusses how recent increases in understanding the nature of the learner and the process of instruction combined with recent advances in technology might lead to improved science instruction.…