Preface and Introduction

What is Curriculum theory?

According to Pinar, curriculum theory is the “interdisciplinary study of the educational experience.” In exploring curriculum theory, Pinar explores the past – American history to date, the oppression of African Americans, the subjugation of women, and “white guilt.” Pinar does not stick fully to one definitive view. He explores many different possibilities of each argument and supposes the reader will make his/her own choices.


In the preface Pinar wrotes about the American South, the 1960’s democratic Presidential campaign that was the start of standards based curriculum, the anti-intellectualism of the current system, where teachers are forced to teach parents, neighbors, etc – anyone who will listen.

Introduction –
Defines curriculum theory and states the school has become a skills-and-knowledge factory. This is based on the corporate structure, where we as teachers are elevated to the role of manager rather than factory worker.

He references Christopher Lasch. Who believes that Americans have become lost in themselves and their work. People retreat into their private lives to get some peace, only to discover they have no privacy there either. This narcissistic view traps people.

“Racism and mysogny have been “deferred and displaced” into public education.”

The National Curricular reform movement is designed to align secondary school standards to the university, thereby establishing academic “rigor”. Now the question is – is the role of the schools to establish academic rigor, allowing students to enter the university at a higher academic level, or are we merely creating workers for a factory model?

Teachers are scapegoats for politicians.

Due to:
Anti-intellectualism of American society,
Racism,
Misogeny
The white southern cutlture
The field of education has remained underdeveloped intellectually. To combat this, we must renew our commitment to intellectualism, recognize and explore forces against us.
This will allow us to help build creative, intellectual, and nurturing schools.