Curriculum on the Edge of Survival: How Schools Fail to Prepare Students for Membership in a Democracy

By Daniel Heller

Book Overview

Daniel Heller contends that public education is in a downward spiral because we have failed to notice the erosion of the basic curricular dimensions which support the preparation of students as active participants in our ever-changing world. While many books explain procedural knowledge such as how to differentiate instruction, how to create standards-based curriculum, or how to write a constructivist lesson_Curriculum on the Edge of Survival discusses the 'what' and 'why' rather than the how. What is the purpose of schools in a free, democratic society, and why is the answer to that question crucial in deciding the most fundamental questions about curriculum?

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1578866642
• ISBN13: 9781578866649
• Release Date: November 2007
• Publisher: R & L Education
• Length: 152 Pages
• Weight: 0.51 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 6.4" x 8.9"

Customer Reviews

Professor

This is a text that speaks to the heart of teaching. All beginning and experienced teachers, and curriculum directors will find it an interesting and insightful read. More and more children are falling by the wayside as we have become less and less human in our teaching under guidelines and regulations like NCLB. While Mr. Heller does not bash NCLB he points to many of its flaws. I personally feel more strongly about the harm NCLB has done, but I think this book addresses a basic need to rethink how we do schooling and how we design our curricula. This is a must read for students in my graduate curriculum course. As a Vermonter I am proud to see this work coming from one of my colleagues even though I do not personally know the author. I will use this along with the notion of backward design. This book is a very readable text that can be enjoyed comfortably in short or long sessions. I recommend it. Alis Headlam Rutland, Vermont