The Types of Curricula

 

 

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While reading Eisner's paper, I realized I had read this before one in a Mathematics education class in my Bachelor's. However, I seemed to have forgotten some of the specifics. I was shocked to read these numbers, “By the time the student has graduated from secondary school, he or she has spent approximately 480 weeks, or 12,000 hours” (p. 87). The insane  amount of time that students are under the guidance of teachers makes one appreciate the immense responsibility that these teachers have, as parents are entrusting them with not only their children’s education but also their overall growth. It's clear how important it is for educators to go out of their way to care for and influence students in the best ways possible.

Another key moment was when Eisner mentioned how values are subtly communicated through textbooks and other learning materials: “These values are expressed in the kinds of illustrations that textbooks contain... subtle, and consistent” (p. 88). This made me think back to my high school textbooks, where the images and narratives often depicted only Caucasian individuals, implicitly sending a message about whose stories and perspectives were prioritized. In thinking about today’s curriculum, it's crucial to push for inclusivity and to ensure a diversity of voices and experiences are represented.

Finally, Eisner’s idea of the "null curriculum" (p. 98)—what schools leave out—was eye-opening, particularly when I thought back to my own education. The fact that I didn’t learn about something as significant as residential schools until 2019, in post-secondary education, shows how many important stories and histories were excluded from elementary and high school learning. Eisner’s ideas connect with the BC Provincial Curriculum by encouraging us to think beyond the mandated subjects and ways and focus on the deeper messages being sent. The BC curriculum does try to embrace diversity and inclusion, but Eisner’s insights push us to consider whether we’re really addressing all the gaps and making room for all stories.