Evaluating the Curriculum of Logan Secondary Schools in Terms of Meeting the Imperative Needs of Youth

The Committee on Curriculum Planning and Development of the National Association of Secondary School Principals has published a list of 10 objectives for secondary schools, known as the Ten Common and Essential Needs That All Youth Have in a Democratic Society.(8) They are generally referred to as The Ten Imperative Needs of Youth. Imperative Need No. 1. All youth need to develop saleable skills and those understandings and attitudes that make the worker an intelligent and productive participant in economic life. To this end, most youth need supervised work experience as well as education in the skills and knowledge of their occupation. Imperative Need No. 2. All youth need to develop and maintain good health and physical fitness. Imperative Need No. 3. All youth need to understand the rights and duties of the citizen of a democratic society, and to be diligent and competent in the performance of their obligations as members of the community and citizens of the state and nation. Imperative Need No. 4. All youth need to understand the significance of the family for the individual and society and the conditions conducive to successful family life. Imperative Need No. 5. All youth need to know how to purchase and use goods and services intelligently, understanding both the values received by the consumer and the economic consequences of their acts. Imperative Need No. 6. All youth need to understand the methods of science, the influence of science on human life, and the main scientific facts concerning the nature of the world and of man. Imperative Need No. 7. All youth need opportunities to develop their capacities to appreciate beauty in literature, art, music, and nature. Imperative Need No. 8. All youth need to be able to use their leisure time well and to budget it wisely, balancing activities that yield satisfaction to the individual with those that are socially useful. Imperative Need No. 9. All youth need to develop respect for other persons, to grow in their insight into ethical values and principals, and to be able to live and work cooperatively with others. Imperative Need No. 10. All youth need to grow in their ability to think rationally, to express their thoughts clearly, and to read and listen with understanding.(8,p.2) Later the same committee surveyed more than 1000 separate schools and published an extensive summary of statements from them, which illustrate how their programs are meeting the separate listed needs.(8) Continuing their follow-up study of this important subject, the committee later prepared a check list of approximately 20 characteristic statements under each of the Imperative Needs. The following year the check list was perfected by submitting it to a great number of leading educators for their rating of the importance of the different statements and for suggestions for rephrasing for clarity.(16) For the past 10 years research work has been going on that has contributed to the improvement of this material