Historical Foundations

Contributions to Curriculum Development

 Franklin Bobbit (1876-1956)

 He started the curriculum development movement.
 Curriculum is a science that emphasizes students’ needs.
 Curriculum prepares learners for adult life.
 Objectives and activities should group together when tasks are
clarified.

 Werret Charters (1875-1952)

 Like Bobbit, he posited that curriculum is science and emphasizes
students’ needs.
 Objectives and activities should match. Subject matter or content
relates to objectives.
 William Kilpartick (1875-1952)
 Curricula are purposeful activities which are child-centered.
 The purpose of the curriculum is child development and growth. He
introduced this project method where teacher and student plan the
activities.
 Curricula develops social relationships and small group instruction.

 Harold Rugg (1886-1960)

 Curriculum should develop the whole child. It is child centered.
 With the statement of activities studies and suggested that the
teacher plans curriculum in advance.

 Hollis Caswell (1901-1989)

 Curriculum is organized around social functions of themes, organized
knowledge and learner’s interest.
 Curriculum, instruction and learning are interrelated.

 Ralph Tyler (1902-1994)

 Curriculum is a science and an extension of school’s philosophy. It is
based on students’ needs and interests.
 Curriculum is always related to instruction. Subject matter is
organized in terms of knowledge, skills and values.
 Th process emphsizes problem solving. Curriculum aims to educate
generalists and not specialists.
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 Hilda Taba (1902-1967)
 She contributed to the theoretical and pedagogical foundations of
concepts development and critical thinking in social studies
curriculum.
 She helped lay the foundation for diverse student population.

 Peter Oliva (1992-2012)

 He describe how the curriculum change is a cooperative endeavor.
 Teachers and curriculum specialist constitute the professional core of
planners
 Significant improvement is achieved through group activity.