The Core Knowledge Philosophy

As described by E. D. Hirsch

"Core Knowledge is an attempt to define, in a coherent and sequential way, a body of widely used knowledge taken for granted by competent writers and speakers in the United States. Because this knowledge is being taken for granted rather than being explained when it is used, it forms a necessary foundation for the higher-order reading, writing, and thinking skills that children need for academic and vocational success. The universal attainment of such knowledge should be a central aim of curricula in our elementary schools, just as it is currently the aim in all world-class educational systems."

"...making sure that all young children in the United States possesses a core of shared knowledge is a necessary step in developing a first-rate educational system."

"Learning builds on learning: children (and adults) gain new knowledge only by building on what they already know. It is essential to begin building solid foundations of knowledge in the early grades when children are the most receptive because research has shown that, for the vast majority of children, academic deficiencies from the first six grades permanently impair the success of later learning."

Please Visit www.coreknowledge.org for more information.

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