Article 2: The Mounting Challenge to The Subject Curriculum: A Complex Example of the Role of Government in Education Before World War II and Beyond

In 1884, Herbert Spencer pithily asked, “What knowledge is of most worth, what should we teach and why should we prefer to teach one thing over another?” These fundamental questions signify the importance of structured curriculum in American public schools. In revisiting the creation, debates, revisions, and implementation of the curriculum in American schools, educational historians have much to offer in unveiling the strategic actions of the government to create curriculum content before World War II and beyond.

The creation of the common school or public schools as we call today in the 1800s was aimed to create a common culture which would reduce tensions between social classes, eliminate crimes and poverty, stabilize the political systems, and, form patriotic citizens (Spring 2018). Thus, common school framers believed in creating state agencies which would disseminate common values and beliefs to create a perfect society.