Chapter 2:
Saber-tooth Curriculum

Thinker

Doer

Created New Curriculum

Fish grabbing

clubbing horses

Saber-tooth scaring
with fire

Had to convince conservative
tribe members to accept it

Dirt from glacier muddies
water - must change method
of fishing

Wooly horses left

Tigers die off or move

Glacial bears become
a threat

Net to catch more fish

Snare for antelope

Dug pits to catch bears

Want to introduce new
ideas into school

School curriculum is
too crowded

New inventions are fads

Students need better grounding
in fundamentals instead - keep
old curriculum

The US had a traditional
curriculum just as the tribe
had the initial lessons from
New Fist

Ice Age comes and threatens
security of the tribe
just as the security of our nation
was threatened after the stock
market crash

A parallel to the new ideas
of catching fish, antelope, and bear
was that of the introduction of
progressive schools.

The conservative members of tribe
rejected the new ideas just as
most rejected idea of progressive
schools and curriculum connected
to the arts and music

Older tribe members felt that old
curriculum-although outdated-
was beneficial to develop courage and
agility. In 1930's, most felt that traditional
curriculum was most beneficial and
contributed to stability of nation.

The tribal community was without food, etc
when the ice age began.
After the stock market crash, many were without
food, clothing, or shelter.

New Fist saw a need for change
just as many today see that
our educational system needs
adjusting.

New Fist met with resistance.
In the same way, the new ideas
presented today are not easily accepted.

Main issues today:
assessments
funding
curriculum content
teacher training

New Fist wanted lessons that
were relevant to the time.
Today, we see the need to make
the learning more practical and
problem-based.

CCSSM standards
created in response to need
for new math curriculum

New definiton of science iteracy
and emphasis on processes -
DOING