Social Foundation of Curriculum

1. PROF. ED 4
TOPIC: SOCIAL FOUNDATION OF
CURRICULUM BY JOHN
GOODLAD (1920-2014)
REPORTERS:
JEANETTE S. MAGNO
BELMONTE, SAN ANDRES,
CATANDUANES
ANTONIO DE MESA
Batong Paluway, San
Andres, Catanduanes

2. • JOHN GOODLAD, IN FULL JOHN INKSTER GOODLAD,
(BORN AUGUST 19, 1920, NORTH VANCOUVER,
BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA—DIED NOVEMBER 29,
2014, SEATTLE, WASHINGTON, U.S.), CANADIAN-
BORN EDUCATOR AND AUTHOR WHO, AS A CRITIC
OF THE U.S. EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM, ARGUED THAT
THE FUNDAMENTAL FOCUS OF EDUCATION
SHOULD NOT BE ON THE PROMOTION OF
STANDARDS-BASED TESTING BUT INSTEAD BE ON
PREPARING YOUNG PEOPLE TO BE ACTIVE AND
ENGAGED CITIZENS IN A PARTICIPATORY
DEMOCRACY.

3. • PROFESSOR GOODLAD, WHO TAUGHT FOR MANY YEARS AT THE
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON AND HAD EARLIER BEEN DEAN OF
THE GRADUATE SCHOOL OF EDUCATION AT THE UNIVERSITY OF
CALIFORNIA, LOS ANGELES, WAS A PROGRESSIVE EDUCATION
REFORMER IN THE TRADITION OF JOHN DEWEY. MANY OF HIS
VIEWS — ON THE IMPORTANCE OF EARLY CHILDHOOD
EDUCATION, FOR EXAMPLE, OR ON THE NEED FOR BETTER
TEACHER TRAINING — REMAIN CENTRAL TO THE EDUCATIONAL
REFORM AGENDA.
• HE WAS BEST KNOWN FOR HIS COMPREHENSIVE EIGHT-YEAR
STUDY INVOLVING CLASSES FROM KINDERGARTEN THROUGH
12TH GRADE IN 38 SCHOOLS IN 13 COMMUNITIES. THE PROJECT,
SPONSORED BY THE INSTITUTE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF
EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES, AN INDEPENDENT RESEARCH

4. GOODLAD'S PURPOSES IN CURRICULUM
THE FOLLOWING ARE CURRICULAR PURPOSES THAT JOHN GOODLAD PROMOTES:
• CURRICULUM SHOULD BE ORGANIZED AROUND THE NEEDS OF SOCIETY AND
STUDENTS.
• CURRICULUM SHOULD HAVE A WIDE RANGE OF PURPOSES, INCLUDING
COGNITIVE, SOCIAL, CIVIC, VOCATIONAL, AESTHETIC, AND MORAL.
• REALISTIC REFORM POLICIES AND PROGRAMS SHOULD BE ENACTED (ORNSTEIN &
HUNKINS, 1993).

5. AN ALTERNATIVE
INTERPRETATION OF GOODLAD'S
THEORY
IF GOODLAD'S INTENTIONS ARE TO BE TAKEN LITERALLY AND SERIOUSLY,
AND ARE TO BE UTILIZED TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM OF IRRELEVANCY IN
TODAY'S CURRICULAR FORMAT, THEN WE HAVE TO BEGIN TO THINK OF
HOW OUR SCHOOL'S CURRICULUM MEETS THE NEEDS OF POVERTY AND
UNEMPLOYMENT IN OUR SOCIETY. WE HAVE TO BEGIN TO MOLD OUR
CURRICULUM TO THE GOALS AND NEEDS OF EACH INDIVIDUAL STUDENT.
THE PURPOSE OF CURRICULUM CAN NO LONGER BE TO CREATE WELL-
ROUNDED AND EXAM-MASTERING STUDENTS, BUT WELL-EQUIPPED AND
WELL-PREPARED STUDENTS. CURRICULUM MUST ADDRESS THE ISSUE OF
STUDENT FUNCTIONALITY IN SOCIETY ABOVE STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT ON
TESTS.