Date of Award

Spring 8-1-1989

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department

Education

First Advisor

Robert Williams

Second Advisor

Mary Ann Simbol

Third Advisor

Daniel B. Horton Jr.

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to assess the form and content of the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) history curriculum to see to what extent it represents the stance of self-determination. This is reflected in the movement away from the effects of colonization in the Englishspeaking Caribbean countries towards greater political and institutional independence. One history curriculum is examined because of the need for detailed examination of content of the document and because that history curriculum best represents the trend of curriculum development in the region. Curriculum displays the substantial impact educational development is having in the region. The study obtains information through content analysis of the document and analysis of questionnaire responses. The questions examine areas that constitute an "ideal" secondary school history curriculum. Twenty respondents were identified and there was a response rate of ninety percent. Literature on content analysis and historicism in Caribbean education and curriculum development are combined to provide a theoretical framework for analysis. Discussion in the study centers on criteria for content and form selection of curricula, contemporary issues in history and their implications for self-determination. The study yields suggestions for development of six new themes and their thematic elements for a more balanced and comprehensive history curriculum for use in the region. These themes relate to the Panama Canal, women in the Caribbean, small scale farming, urban ation, national holidays, and political and ideological development of the Caribbean. The major findings are that experts prefer themes which concentrate on political inquiry and less on political action; theme preferences of the experts match closely the themes in the CXC curriculum; new themes introduced would greatly move the curriculum towards a revisionist mode and strengthen patterns of self-determination evident in it. The conclusion relates the findings to the literature on Caribbean educational development and makes recommendations for further research.

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