Description
This influential work argues that a shared store of historical facts, literary references, scientific ideas, and civic knowledge is essential for effective communication and full participation in American society. It contends that many students—especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds—are denied access to this cultural foundation when schools emphasize skills without teaching substantive content. The book presents a broad inventory of the knowledge it considers central to cultural literacy, while examining the relationship between education, opportunity, and national identity. Provocative and widely discussed, it continues to shape debates about curriculum, equity, and what schools should teach.
Available Editions
paperback
Vintage Books
Published Jan 1, 1988
251 pages
ISBN: 9780394758435
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Details
First Published
1987
Language
eng
Content Warnings
Content and trigger warnings for Cultural Literacy: What Every American Needs to Know by E. D. Hirsch.