The past, present, and future are reflections of each other. The institutions in any given society mirror those reflections. To understand a society's sense of itself, the particular social character, what is valued, and what is expected of it members, look to its institutions. Among American institutions, schools and their process of schooling reflect America's sense of itself, signaling our character, values, and expectations. At the heart of the schooling enterprise lies the curriculum, and in Part I, you will take a first look at the world of curriculum, how it arose, and what the work comprises in curriculum, and be introduced to certain traditions of thought and practice.