The contemporary field of curriculum studies draws together scholars who are interested in a wide range of ideas. Throughout the 20th (and now 21st) century, several schools of thought have emerged from the many conversations among curriculum studies scholars. These conversations have come to constitute forms of discourse. The contemporary field of curriculum studies now reflects scholarly discourses on an ever-expanding range of topics.

Traditionalist Discourse

Traditionalists believe that education should require students to learn about the great ideas and events of the Western, intellectual, social, and political heritage and should focus on the basic skills of reading, writing, and math. These scholars argue that all children should be taught the same content, and learning should be measured by standardized, high-stakes tests. As a result, drills, recitation, ...

  • Loading...
locked icon

Sign in to access this content

Get a 30 day FREE TRIAL

  • Watch videos from a variety of sources bringing classroom topics to life
  • Read modern, diverse business cases
  • Explore hundreds of books and reference titles