There are many groups that shape today’s curriculum. Teachers, standardized tests, state government, and text book publishers are only a few. Teachers are integral to the development of their curriculum. I believe that teachers play the greatest role in curriculum. “They may serve on textbook selection committees that determine what texts the school will purchase, or they may actually work on writing a district’s curriculum.” They are also involved in less formal ways. Teachers are responsible for the way they teach the text and other materials. While there may be certain standards they must have in their curriculum, teachers are ultimately responsible for the methods they use, and that is what curriculum is all about. It is not only the information being taught, but the manner in which it is being taught.
State government is playing an increasingly larger role in curriculum. With the introduction and emphasis on state achievement tests, curriculum has to bend to cover the goals the state sets out. Policies are also playing a role. “In more conservative states, the role of religion and the treatment of evolution verses creationism are hot-button issues.” While in liberal states, the emphasis is on more multicultural issues. These policies direct what is included in the base curriculum.
Standardized test have always played a significant role in curriculum. Tests such as the SATs are required for graduation. Many teachers are finding themselves “teaching to the test.” Some schools are even teaching the students “tricks” to do well on the standardized tests. These tests also play a large part in another group affecting curriculum. Colleges and universities place demanding standards for entry. They also “spell out courses students must take to gain admittance.” An example of this is the increased enrollment in classes like foreign language. Colleges require these types of classes and the schools must react to meet the demands.
Parental and committee groups can have an impact on curriculum as well. If students in a particular area are not scoring well on standardized tests, parents can voice their opinions about instituting more demanding courses. Parents are also often responsible for banning certain books and videos if they feel they contain inappropriate materials. “In more conservative communities, religious fundamentalists have objected to the absence of Christian values, while liberal communities have objected to books that use racial, ethnic, or gender slurs and stereotypes.”
Texts book also play a part in the curriculum, however I believe that it is a small one. Book are designed more to sell than to teach. “That is why textbook are attractively packaged and chock full of terms and names, but unfortunately, do less well in providing depth or conflicting points of view.” They also are beginning to include a wide variety of supplementary materials. Some people say that this is cutting the teacher's role in the curriculum. However, it is the teachers who are in charge of their classrooms, not the publishers. If a teacher is assigned a text book to use that is less than adequate, the teacher can fine many other ways to teach what is on her curriculum. I see the text book as a luxury, not an outline for curriculum.
-- Andrea Van Der Plaats, Florida Atlantic University