Committee of Ten

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The Committee of Ten was a working group of educators that, in 1892, recommended the standardization of American high school curriculum.

1 Background
2 The Committee of Ten
3 Recommendations
4 References

[edit] Background

In the United States, by the late 1800’s, it became apparent that there was a need for educational standardization^[1].

Across the nation, and within communities, there were competing academic philosophies to resolve. One philosophy favored rote memorization, whereas another favored critical thinking. Along another dimension, one philosophy considered American high schools solely as institutions that would from the start (, sometimes based on race or ethnic background,) divide students into college-bound and working-trades groups, whereas another philosophy attempted to provide standardized courses for all students. Somewhat similarly, another philosophy promoted classic Latin/Greek studies, whereas other philosophies stressed practical studies.

[edit] The Committee of Ten

To resolve these issues, the National Education Association formed The 1892 Committee of Ten. Committee members were chosen from educators across the United States, primarily from colleges and universities. The committee was chaired by Charles William Eliot, the president of Harvard University.

[edit] Recommendations

The committee provided its recommendations in a report document ^[2].

Twelve years of education were recommended, with eight years of elementary education followed by four years of high school. All students would be taught, regardless of their further education plans or careers.

The recommendations were influential and were soon adopted by many school systems across the United States. The recommendations were generally interpreted as a call to teach English, mathematics, and history or civics to every student every academic year in high school. The recommendations also formed the basis of the practice of teaching biology, chemistry, and physics, respectively, in ascending high school academic years.