Page 8

THE CURRICULUM Center is one
of the most interesting features
of Military Government's attempt to
reorient German education. It might
be described as a research center;
a professional laboratory, providing
a specialized library and a study hall
for prospective writers and research
students.
The Curriculum Center is related
closely to the American Information
Library in that it includes a steadily
growing collection of books and mag-
azines available to Germans, with
the hope of opening to them a new
picture of the world outside. But the
Curriculum Center is under the direct
supervision of the Education and Re-
ligious Affairs Division, and all of
its material pertains to the profession
of education. It seeks to attract per-
sons whose concern is education in
the widest meaning-not only teach-
ers, but those hoping to become
teachers, and also parents and laymen
interested in the schools.
Of the nine centers in the American
Zone, two are in Wuerttemberg-Ba-
den-at Stuttgart and Karlsruhe, and
still another is contemplated for
Heidelberg.
Each Center in Wuerttemberg-Baden
is headed by a succesful teacher with
library experience-an ideal com-
bination.
The Stuttgart Center has gradually
expanded its program, and unusually
good relationships have been cultivat-
ed with German teachers, the Min-
istry of Culture and the German
public.
ITS LIBRARY of books, magazines
and related materials consists of
more than 2,500 volumes, including
strictly professional books in such
fields as psychology, teaching methods
and educational philosophy; various
modern textbooks, yearbooks and
other publications of professional
organizations; professional magazines
and papers, pictures and exhibits of
childrens' school work, pupil news-
papers and magazines, charts and
other exhibits.
These are mostly American materials
which reflect the democratic character
of education in the United States.
These give the Germans a vivid im-
pression of the development, growth
and progress of American schools.
Much of these materials deal with
problems and trends as well as the
strong differences of viewpoint found
in American education today. German
teachers and students thus can see
that the US schools do not con-
stitute a dictatorial and centralized
A committee of German teachers is shown using reference material
at the Stuttgart Curriculum Center, to plan its instruction in social
sciences.                                            (Signal Corps photo)
INFORMATION BULLETIN
8
"Old Look" Garments
Please German Buyers
A German textile buyer, who
went to London to look into an
offer of 200,000 women's "old
look" utility garments, telegra-
phed the German press that "old
look" pertained only to the
fashion designers' current style
description.
"The goods are brand new and
in excellent condition," the buyer,
Oswin Pucklitsch, wired, indicat-
ing that he would recommend
immediate purchase to the Ruhr
district's Coal Mining Manage-
ment on his return to Essen.
system, but enjoy the opportunity oai
complex development and organ'
growth.
Those who study in the Curriculum
Centers will understand that onl
cannot speak of the American school
or of the American opinion of educa-
tion, but that the great unifying prinJ.
ciple of democracy underlies ea
different concept.
They will see that the word "d
mocracy" means something very r
to American school people and tha
it is a vital principle in school 1i
rather than a mere catchword.
Other American books discuss
specific and scientific problems
method, testing, grouping of stude
preparation of units of work, tec
niques of reading and problems
guidance.
The Curriculum Centers also feat
a growing collection of books, m
azines, and other materials fr
England, Switzerland and France,
German professional magazines.
T HE WUERTTEMBERG-Baden C
1Triculum Centers 'would like
have more photographs and exhib
from actual school life; pictures
American landscapes and buildin
exhibits of children's art; copies
all textbooks published in other pa
of Germany. Also, they hope to
tain additional copies of certain p
fessional books which have pro
very useful and popular, to loan
in "package libraries" to groups
(Continued on page
APRIL 20, 1
U
Curriculum Centers
By Payne Templeton
Chief, Schools Branch, Office of Military
Government, Wuerttemberg-Baden
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