A Blueprint for the Future of Curricular Change in America's Public Schools

This article provides an overview of the short- and long-term action that is essential for effective curriculum improvement. It focuses on the ongoing need for schools to develop effective procedures for processing the routine operations of schools, to evaluate personnel, to maintain good salaries and working conditions, to involve staff in decision making, to experiment with new programs and question current educational practice, and to recognize that there are no gimmicks for solving problems. The paper offers a broad definition of curriculum, claiming that it encompasses all of a student's learning experiences in the school setting. Therefore, curriculum improvement should impart sound moral and spiritual values, develop physical fitness, teach basic knowledge, develop adaptability and critical intellectual inquiry, teach basic skills, teach technical skills, and develop a positive self-concept for the educational community. The text describes 10 obstacles to curriculum improvement, such as class scheduling and departmentalization. It also prescribes ways to overcome these obstacles, such as the formation of professional councils that are dedicated to curriculum improvement. The paper concludes with a synopsis of the impending changes in school administration, organization of professional staff, learning experiences, the school day and the school year, school buildings, and student conduct. (Contains 12 references.) (RJM)