Committee of Ten

The Committee of Ten was a working group of educators that, in 1892, recommended the standardization of American high school curriculum.

Background

In the United States, by the late 1800s, it became apparent that there was a need for educational standardization.^[1]

Across the nation and within communities there were competing academic philosophies which the Committee of Ten aimed to resolve. One philosophy favored rote memorization, whereas another favored critical thinking. One philosophy designated American high schools as institutions that would divide students into college-bound and working-trades groups from the start. These institutions sometimes further divided students based on race or ethnic background. Another philosophy attempted to provide standardized courses for all students. Somewhat similarly, another philosophy promoted classic Latin/Greek studies, whereas other philosophies stressed practical studies.

The Committee of Ten

To resolve these issues, the National Education Association formed The 1892 Committee of Ten. Committee members were chosen from educators across the United States, primarily from colleges and universities. The committee was chaired by Charles William Eliot, the president of Harvard University.

Recommendations

The committee provided its recommendations in a report document.^[2]

Twelve years of education were recommended, with eight years of elementary education followed by four years of high school. All students would be taught, regardless of their further education plans or careers.

The recommendations were influential and were soon adopted by many school systems across the United States. The recommendations were generally interpreted as a call to teach English, mathematics, and history or civics to every student every academic year in high school. The recommendations also formed the basis of the practice of teaching biology, chemistry, and physics, respectively, in ascending high school academic years.

References

1. ^ Hertzberg, Hazel W. (Feb, 1988). Foundations. The 1892 Committee of Ten. Social Education, v52 n2. ERIC EJ365372. 
2. ^ http://books.google.com/books?id=PfcBAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA3&lpg=PA3

See also

• Flexner Report