School Knowledge for the Masses

<p>First published in 1992 this book presents unique quantitative data on the content coverage of primary education in a large number of countries since 1920. It demonstrates that these curricular outlines tend to be surprisingly similar across very disparate countries and suggests the world processes that produced this result. </p><p>Specifically the study shows that the contemporary primary curriculum dates from changes in the late nineteenth century; that there has been a general shift towards a ‘social studies’ subject; that instruction in mathematics and sciences has tended to expand; that there have been substantial increases in foreign language instruction (and changes in the languages taught); and that instruction in the arts and physical education come to the standard world education model much later than other subjects. </p><p>This work will be of particular interest to those studying primary curriculum international education and the sociology of education.</p>