Saber-Tooth Curriculum

by Harold Raymond Wayne Benjamin

In this little book a fictitious authority on stone-age education presents a series of lectures satirizing educators and education. Professor Peddiwell reports that the three fundamentals taught to youngsters in the paleolithic curriculum were (1) fish-grabbing-with-the-bare-hands, (2) horse-clubbing, and (3) saber-tooth-tiger-scaring-with-fire. When fish became too agile to catch with the bare hands and horses and tigers disappeared, schools nevertheless went on teaching the old fundamentals for their cultural value. The eventual revolt of the progressive educators against traditional curriculum is described in one of the most entertaining passages in this amusing satire.

Genres: Education, Professional Development, Fiction, Literature, Teaching

Paperback

First published June 1, 1959

Reviews

[Tyler Bray · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent read. Originally required to read for my Masters in Education course, The Saber-Tooth Curriculum is a parody of our current educational system (written in 1939) where our system is compared to that of a paleolithic education. Issues such as stagnant curriculum, adherence to useless skills for the sake of 'virtue', to the increase of education academia for that offers little to the actual classroom are all presented in this book.

The book is full of humor and insights that every teacher today should read and know. Although written in 1939, its message and warning still remain very much relevant today.

[William · Rating 4 out of 5]

It took me many fish-eats to get my diploma but without me having earned them fish-eats I likely wouldn't have understood a word that's in this book. Good for me for earning credits! Good for mankind that we have education that goes back to the times of cave dwellers!

[David Lamp · Rating 4 out of 5]

This hilarious and sarcastic satire is spot on about the dangers and temptations of education and training—learning only about the past from people who are no longer current in what’s needed for the challenges being faced.

Makes a great case for the apprentice/novice model but overlooks the need for an interdisciplinary contextual framework for investigation and decision making. Makes an urgent case (albeit from the early 20th century!) for a personal commitment to human inventiveness and creativity rather than merely redoing the words and ideas from the assembled canons with AI.

[Ray Campbell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the classics of curriculum development literature. In this short parable, Abner Peddiwell explains how ancient man would have developed curriculum based on the threat of the saber-tooth tiger. What we teach has to go beyond the basics of reading writing and arithmetic and address what keeps us alive. Great book, great read!

[Sherry · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I began this read, I almost quite, but it was an assignment. When I was done, it had transformed my ideals about education as a whole. Written under a psuedonym to keep his well-known educational position at a prestigious educational institution, Harold Benjamin, also wrote many other books on education and the role of an educator.

[Hafizul Shahar]

Let's not stick with the old fashioned teaching and learning methods. This book inspire teacher to reform teaching. How I wish the policymakers and stakeholders can read and understand this. It is not for us. It's for the students future.

[Kaye · Rating 3 out of 5]

read in 60s? after taking education classes.

[Derek · Rating 4 out of 5]

This could have easily been written today. Shows not much changes when the wrong people are in charge of education.

[Noel Welsh · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a real little stinker

[Howard Turner · Rating 5 out of 5]

A hilarious look at curriculum

[Emma]

I only read the title piece. It was okay.

[Elijah Abanto · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great little book! It helps you examine the state of our educational system today!

I thank my Prof Ed course for giving this book reading assignment!

[Rebecca]

Read it for grad school, not a bad read but not one I would have selected for myself.

[Katie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not a fan. Some of the ideas are great, but the allegory gets a bit too thick for me. The educational element of our society needs to be revamped, but we need to leave it to those who can educate, not those that we think should or to those who can't. Yes, parents should have some type of a say in how their child is educated, and their ideas(along with the majority of other groups) are based in an ideal classroom where every child comes to school well clothed, well fed and eager to be the best student they can be. The reality is that many classrooms have one teacher faced with 25-30 students of which 20 don't want to be there, 4 want to but don't want to let anyone know it and the other 4 are on board. Those same students are busy texting, listening to music and otherwise causing disturbances that can't be monitored by just one person and in todays "happy happy tell me how you feel" society, students are rarely disciplined accordingly by the administration.

I know, classroom management is a key element to creating a good educational environment and I'm not trying to shuffle the woes of the educational system on the uncooperative students, but they are a huge factor in the success or failure of a classroom and a curriculum. I challenge all the parents and others outside of the classroom to come in and teach and keep up with all the students, all their work, and all the paperwork we have to do and then I invite you to discuss ideas on how to improve the educational system.

Sorry for the rant. I had to read this novel for my grad classes and needless to say I wasn't very impressed. I think what bothered me the most was how he quite specifically mentioned Ichthyology as the study of fish but mis-identified the word for the study of horses. The correct word is hippology, I think he called it something like Equine-ology? I don't have my book in front of me at the moment, but I just know it really bothered me.... :)

[Drtronahue · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazingly on point, especially for having been written in 1939. Anyone who is more informed and skilled than their supervisors and who has ever been in education, or a similar unnecessarily complicated, bureaucratic institution... or even anyone who has sat through a corporate training and wondered "why the fuck did I just waste 3 hours on that"? should read this book. so, basically, everyone should read this book. it is brilliant, witty, and a quick read.

[Bria · Rating 3 out of 5]

Since the parody was so thinly veiled, I assumed every aspect of it had a specific analogue in the history of educational reform, but didn't know what it was referring to due to my ignorance of that history. It was a little too overt a parody and got kind of old real quick, but at least it was short, although I found the last lesson to be extremely disappointing, almost undermining the rest of it. Otherwise, does its job at pointing out problems that I think are probably still widely in place today, sadly enough.

[Kevin Tu · Rating 5 out of 5]

A short, fun satire on our education system. A stagnant curriculum, emphasis on useless skills for "virtue", deifies academia which is not helpful at all in the classroom... It was a little startling how this book, written in the 1930s, is still applicable today.

Short books are carried by story, prose, or message. The message of this book is very strong: our education system was built for another era and needs reform. I think any educator would benefit from reading this.

[Gregg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Did you know that current educational reform didn't work when it was tried years ago? This book seems remarkably modern but was written 50 years ago. It takes the structure of our society and educational system and explains it by putting it in terms of cavemen in simpler times. It also taught me about tequila daisies. Mmm, tequila daisies.

[Erin Dobrow · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book. I don't know if I would have picked it up on my own, or read it without the requirement of my graduate course. That being said, it is amazing the parallels between education past and education present - with regard to the awareness of a need for change and the lack of motion in the right direction!!!! WOW!

[Lyna M. Perez]

The book challenges many beliefs in regards to education. Many of the concepts are still relevant in today's education system. It is a good satire and will likely challenge a casual reader. Personnally, I just didn't care for the narrative/story itself. So while it is a great conversation piece it is not a book that I would reread.

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this book! Most reassuring satire of humanity and education that I've read in ages. Gratified to know that this was originally published in 1939 way before the Flintstones satirized humanity.

[Dave Intlekofer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. A very clever critique of the educational system that, despite being written decades ago, still rings amazingly true. This book is an easy read, filled with a very creative analysis of the curriculum of cavemen that is eerily close to the current system.

[Nate · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was just alright. It occasionally had fun metaphors, especially applicable to those readers working in education. It was an easy and light read. I feel like I have really no negative or positive views to say about this book. It's a mediocre book with an aperiodic, thought provoking gem.

[Judy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is worth reading, especially for home-school parents and new teachers. There is just too much to teach, so we do have to let go of some things, but it's not always clear what to keep, what to modify, and what to let go.

[Samantha Skeens · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had to read this book for an education class I was taking, but everyone can relate to it because we all went through 13 years of education. It brings about issues in education in a humorous way. Written in 1939, the timelessness is incredible.

[Brittany · Rating 2 out of 5]

I just ordered a copy and I am SO EXCITED to read it.

[angrykitty · Rating 5 out of 5]

another suggestion from another fellow teacher. this was a really funny satire about how education doesn't work. another must read for any teacher....esp. high school teachers.

[Victoria · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are a teacher who has NOT read this, you must.

[Kate M · Rating 2 out of 5]

Read this for my history of science education course. Interesting parallels to our debate about education today, and our society overall.

[anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

interesting take on education. quick read, recommend it for teachers.