Front cover image for The tragedy of American school reform : how curriculum politics and entrenched dilemmas have diverted us from democracy

The tragedy of American school reform : how curriculum politics and entrenched dilemmas have diverted us from democracy

Two persistent dilemmas haunt school reform: curriculum politics and classroom constancy. Both undermined the 1960s' new social studies, a dynamic reform movement centered on inquiry, issues, and social activism. Dramatic academic freedom controversies ended reform and led to a conservative restoration. On one side were teachers and curriculum developers; on the other, conservative activists determined to undo the revolutions of the 1960s. The episode brought a return to traditional history, a turn away from questioning, and the re-imposition of authority. Engagingly written and thoroughly researched, The Tragedy of American School Reform offers a provocative perspective on current trends
eBook, English, 2011
Palgrave Macmillan, New York, 2011
1 online resource
9780230119109, 9781283124287, 9781349290833, 0230119107, 1283124289, 1349290831
728644705
Cover; Titlepage; Copyright; Dedication; Contents; List of Illustrations; Acknowledgments; Introduction: Challenges of Curriculum Development; The Problem; Part I Changes; 1 The New Social Studies; 2 The Newer Social Studies; 3 Larger Trends in Schools; Part II Reaction; 4 Aftermath: "We Face a National Conspiracy"; 5 The MACOS Controversy and Beyond; 6 The Conservative Restoration; Part III Making Sense; 7 Can We Transcend the Grammar of Social Studies?; Conclusion: Reflections on Education for Democracy; Dissonance; Can We Make a Difference?; Lasting Impressions; List of Abbreviations