Core Knowledge Foundation
Nonprofit organization founded by American educator E. D. Hirsch, Jr. to promote the implementation of a nationwide shared academic curriculum for U.S. students.
Founded by University of Virginia professor E. D. Hirsch, Jr. in 1988, the Core Knowledge Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the goal of designing a course of study for U.S. schools that will result in a core of shared knowledge by all students. Hirsch, an English professor, was inspired by the positive response to his 1987 best-seller, Cultural Literacy: What Every American Needs to Know, and decided to apply his ideas toward the education of U.S. students. In working toward that goal, he founded the Core Knowledge Foundation to offer publications, workshops, and other resources for schools interested in incorporating the basic knowledge that Hirsch and his followers believe are crucial to success in U.S. society. Under Hirsch's direction, the Core Knowledge Foundation developed and published a sample curriculum, known as the Core Knowledge Sequence, for students in kindergarten through grade six. The Foundation worked with teachers, curriculum specialists, parents, and subject-matter experts to prepare the Sequence, which features specific content guidelines designed to form the basis for about 50% of a school's curriculum.
The Sequence offers a planned progression of specific knowledge in six content areas, namely history, geography, mathematics, science, language arts, and fine arts. Where state or school district curricula provide general guidelines concerning skills to be learned at each grade level, the Core Knowledge Sequence recommends specific content. In addition, the Sequence is a plan that builds from year to year, which its supporters say helps to prevent repetitions and gaps in instruction.
Critics of the "core knowledge" approach feel that it focuses too strongly on European American history, giving too little attention to other ethnic and cultural influences in American history. Another criticism is that the Sequence does not provide for individual differences in learning rates, interests, and abilities.
As of 1997, the Core Knowledge Sequence had been implemented or was being phased in for kindergarten through grade six by over 200 schools in 36 states. A draft of a Core Knowledge Sequence for grades seven and eight was completed, and in 1997 was being reviewed by teachers, parents, and curriculum specialists. The Core Knowledge Foundation expects the draft to be available in final form in the late 1990s.
Following the successful experiences of educators in Europe in applying curriculum-based instruction in preschool, the Core Knowledge Foundation has initiated development of a preschool sequence as well.
For Further Study
Books
Hirsch, E. D., Jr., Joseph Kett, and James Trefil. Cultural Literacy: What Every American Needs to Know, What Literate Americans Know. New York: Vintage Books, 1988.
Hirsch, E. D., Jr., William G. Rowland, Jr., and Michael Stanford, eds. A First Dictionary of Cultural Literacy: What Our Children Need to Know. 2nd ed. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1996.
Hirsch, E. D., Jr. The Schools We Need and Why We Don't Have Them. Books to Build On: A Grade-By-Grade Resource Guide For Parents and Teachers. New York: Delta, 1996.
—— and John Holdren. What Your Kindergartner Needs to Know: Preparing Your Child for a Lifetime of Learning. New York: Doubleday, 1996.
——. What Your First Grader Needs to Know: Fundamentals of a Good First Grade Education. New York: Doubleday, 1997.
——. What Your Second Grader Needs to Know: Fundamentals of a Good Second Grade Education. New York: Dell, 1993.
——. What Your Third Grader Needs to Know: Fundamentals of a Good Third Grade Education. New York: Delta, 1992.
——. What Your Fourth Grader Needs to Know: Fundamentals of a Good Fourth Grade Education. New York: Doubleday, 1994.
——. What Your Fifth Grader Needs to Know: Fundamentals of a Good Fifth Grade Education. New York: Doubleday, 1993.
Organizations
Core Knowledge Foundation
Address: 2012 B Morton Dr.
Charlottesville, VA 22903-6803
Telephone: (804) 977-7550
FAX: (804) 977-0021
website: www.coreknowledge.org
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