The Curriculum Experiment: Meeting the Challenge of Social Change

Citation

Skinner, C. (2001), "The Curriculum Experiment: Meeting the Challenge of Social Change", International Journal of Educational Management, Vol. 15 No. 7, pp. 359-362. https://doi.org/10.1108/ijem.2001.15.7.359.4

This is a thought provoking text that considers the curriculum in relation to the changes of the last 20 years and in the context of the needs of the twenty‐first century. Elliott has a captivating style of writing that engages the reader fully with the issues. He outlines eloquently the growth of his own views so that the reader has a clear understanding not only of his perspective, but the developmental process through which this was developed. Elliott’s outline of the history of the issues concerning curriculum development is both thought provoking and meticulous.

However, I found that the strength of this text is how it provides an antidote to the effective school writing material mainly spewing out of the London Institute of Education. It is refreshing to find an educationalist who clearly understands the issues that are facing schools, and in particular the need to address issues concerning the curriculum from a child centred perspective; and to acknowledge that decisions concerning the curriculum are inherently political in nature.

Given that many new to the teaching profession will not be familiar with the ideas of Stenhouse or the “Cambridge Group”, clearly probably too subversive for new Labour or the London Institute, it is heartening to see these ideas put forward to those who may wish to engage their thought processes, rather than stupefy on Everard and Morris and Bedford Way papers. However, I can recommend the latter for cat trays.

Flippancy aside, this is truly an exceptional text that should be read by all who are seriously interested in change.