Why knowledge matters: rescuing our children from failed educational theories

In the past Hirsch’s work has focused on the importance of a solid foundation of core knowledge that each pupil requires to develop their learning and to grow into citizens who can contribute to their society through a shared cultural literacy.  

In this new book he focuses on six persistent problems of recent US education reform: the over-testing of pupils; the scapegoating of teachers; the fadeout of preschool gains; the narrowing of the curriculum; the continued achievement gap between demographic groups; and the reliance on standards that are not linked to a rigorous curriculum. These various problems, he suggests, have hampered pupils’ academic and social development.

Examining evidence from the United States and other nations where a coherent, knowledge-based approach to schooling has been implemented, Hirsch finds that this has improved both pupil achievement and equity, and argues that this supports his theory that the most significant force for equality of opportunity and greater social cohesion is the reform of fundamental educational ideas.