Cultural Literacy in the 21st Century.

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Bibliographic Details
Title:	Cultural Literacy in the 21st Century.
Source:	Journal of Literacy & Technology. Spring2024, Vol. 25 Issue 1, p2-17. 16p.
Subject Terms:	Cultural literacy, Common Core State Standards, Twenty-first century
Abstract:	E.D. Hirsch's curricular concept of "cultural literacy," first popularized in his 1987 book Cultural Literacy: What Every American Needs to Know, has had quite an interesting history in the more than three and half decades since that book's release. Since day one, cultural literacy has been consistently controversial, but where it has been tried, it has produced results in improving reading comprehension, and no contrary studies seem to contradict that. Currently, the ubiquitous Common Core State Standards serve as a practical stand-in for cultural literacy, as the debate over Hirsch's work seems to discourage some from studying it, much less using it by name. Sadly, results of that endeavor are hard to quantify, as its actual implementation has been spotty. As we continue to refine what and how we teach in the 21st century, we might do well to accept the value of Hirsch's ideas and focus on discussing precisely what content we should be teaching together, and how. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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Database:	Education Research Complete

Description
Abstract:	E.D. Hirsch's curricular concept of "cultural literacy," first popularized in his 1987 book Cultural Literacy: What Every American Needs to Know, has had quite an interesting history in the more than three and half decades since that book's release. Since day one, cultural literacy has been consistently controversial, but where it has been tried, it has produced results in improving reading comprehension, and no contrary studies seem to contradict that. Currently, the ubiquitous Common Core State Standards serve as a practical stand-in for cultural literacy, as the debate over Hirsch's work seems to discourage some from studying it, much less using it by name. Sadly, results of that endeavor are hard to quantify, as its actual implementation has been spotty. As we continue to refine what and how we teach in the 21st century, we might do well to accept the value of Hirsch's ideas and focus on discussing precisely what content we should be teaching together, and how. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
ISSN:	15350975