Watch the short section of The Paper Chase and discuss the following aspects within your group. Prepare to report back to the class on your group discussion.

Question

1. Which of the four curriculum approaches discussed (plan, practice, construct or hidden) relates best to the way Professor Kingsfield interprets the law curriculum at Harvard Law School? Explain.
2. Decide which of the concepts of the curriculum above is/are the most appealing to you. What facilitative roles are you expected to play as a curriculum leader in ensuring that these concept(s) should be applied?
3. Now compare these principles and values with what actually happens in classrooms that you have been part of/attended. Provide personal experiences.
4. Is it possible to strike a balance between the four ways of looking at the curriculum?
5. As a teacher in the school, what values and norms do Professor Kingsfield consciously teach students apart from what they learn in the formal curriculum?

Answer 1

Sure! Here's a structured discussion based on the questions you've provided about the short section of "The Paper Chase."

1. Curriculum Approach Related to Professor Kingsfield

Professor Kingsfield represents the hidden curriculum approach most strongly in his teaching philosophy. While he delivers content through lectures (the formal curriculum), much of his influence comes from the way he conducts his classes—demanding rigorous analysis, critical thinking, and preparedness. Students learn not only about the law but also about the expectations, values, and behaviors that successful lawyers should embody. His Socratic method instills a sense of professionalism and an understanding of the high standards expected in the legal field.

2. Most Appealing Curriculum Concept

Among the curriculum concepts, the constructivist approach might be the most appealing. It emphasizes active learning and the construction of knowledge through experience and interaction. As a curriculum leader, my role would involve:

• Facilitating Professional Development: Providing teachers with resources and training to implement constructive practices in their classrooms.
• Encouraging Collaboration: Promoting team teaching and collaborative projects where students can work together to create meaning rather than just absorb information.
• Supporting Inquiry-Based Learning: Implementing techniques that allow students to explore content through questions and discoveries rather than through rote memorization.

3. Personal Classroom Experiences

In my classroom experiences, I’ve seen a mix of these approaches. For instance, in high school, we had a teacher who employed the Socratic Method like Kingsfield, which challenged us to think critically and defend our ideas. That experience mirrored the hidden curriculum as we learned the importance of articulation and thinking on our feet. However, I’ve also observed classrooms heavily focused on standardized testing, reflecting a planned curriculum where the emphasis is on content delivery rather than student engagement or exploration.

4. Balancing the Four Curriculum Approaches

Striking a balance among the four approaches is certainly possible but can be challenging. A well-rounded curriculum would integrate:

• The planned curriculum to ensure that learning outcomes are met.
• Practice to apply theories in real-world settings.
• Constructivist methods to foster critical and independent thinking.
• Recognition of the hidden curriculum to instill necessary values and behaviors.

Flexibility and adaptability in teaching methods can help achieve this balance, allowing educators to respond to the needs of their students while fulfilling curriculum goals.

5. Values and Norms Influenced by Professor Kingsfield

Apart from the formal curriculum, Professor Kingsfield consciously teaches values such as:

• Integrity: The importance of honesty and ethics in law practice, encompassing the responsibility lawyers have to their clients and society.
• Discipline and Commitment: Through his demanding teaching style, he instills a sense of discipline and the requirement of hard work to succeed in the legal field.
• Critical Thinking: He emphasizes the need to critically evaluate information, fostering a norm of questioning and deeper inquiry.

Through these lessons, he prepares students not just academically but also ethically for their future careers in law.

Conclusion

Overall, the discussion of curriculum approaches, values, and real-world applications offers a complex view of the educational experience at institutions like Harvard Law School. By focusing on these elements, teachers can better prepare their students for the challenges of their professions while fostering a more holistic educational environment.