Guiding Curriculum Development: The Need to Return to Local Control

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Top-down mandates concerning the curriculum of the school leave no room for program creativity and program commitment. Yet principals and teachers are held accountable for student achievement results. Constitutionally, powers not granted to the United States are reserved to the States or to the people. The books primary purposes center on the need for placing the responsibility for determining student curriculum and academic achievement the local school level whereby school personnel determine the individual students personal interests and needs and design a curricular program for each student that fosters personnel success. The creative abilities of teachers are inhibited in attempts to implement top-down mandates that set forth academic content and instructional methods set forth by federal and state agencies. If learning programs and instructional methods are to be designed to meet the individual interests and needs of the learner, who is in the best position to determine such needs We believe that the social, mental, and physical needs of children and youth are determined best by local educational professionals. This book sets forth the foundations of practice that will serve these purposes.

Reviews

The landscape of education is rapidly changing and the function of human resources as a strategic partner is critical to meeting the needs of the school district and its workforce. Dr. Scott Norton shines light on the vital importance of leveraging the expertise of human resources in organizational development and planning. His perspective promotes a strategic systems approach to educational improvement. This book is a must read for any human resources administrator, educational leader, or individual aspiring to a position of educational leadership. -- Jenna Moffitt, Director of Human Resources, Deer Valley Unified School District, Phoenix, Arizona As a practicing human resources director, I am always looking for ways to improve how we can support our staff, students, and the school district as a whole. Guiding the school district's human resources function requires a roadmap to assist the HR director and the department in assuring that the necessary support services are in place. Dr. Norton's book provides this important service. In addition, with the increasing demands being placed upon the school districts' human resources directors nationally, Dr. Norton's book provides new ideas and strategies for meeting the ongoing challenges. Every human resources administrator should have this book at their fingertips as it will serve them as a highly valuable resource. -- Jeff Filloon, EdD, Human Resources Director, Chandler Unified School District, Chandler, Arizona

Author Bio

M. Scott Norton has served as a classroom teacher, coordinator of curriculum, associate superintendent and superintendent of schools. He served as professor and vice-chairman of the Department of Educational Administration at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and chairman of the Department of Educational Administration and Policy Studies at Arizona State University where he is currently Professor Emeritus.