The Saber-Tooth Curriculum, Classic Edition [Paperback]

Abner Peddiwell (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 19, 2004

The 65th-anniversary edition of an educational classic proves its relevance in examining today's educational quandaries

McGraw-Hill first published The Saber- Tooth Curriculum in 1939, and it has remained a classic bestseller to this date. The book is just as relevant and applicable to the key questions in education today as it was when it was first published.

With tongue firmly in cheek, Peddiwell takes on the contradictions and confusion generated by conflicting philosophies of education, outlining the patterns and progression of education itself, from its origins at the dawn of time to its culmination in a ritualistic, deeply entrenched social institution with rigidly prescribed norms and procedures.

This fascinating exploration is developed within a fanciful framework of fictional lectures, given by Professor J. Abner Peddiwell, doyen in the History of Education at Petaluma State College. In a humorous fable, Peddiwell illustrates the progress of education and give valuable insights into how it could continue to develop in the decades to come.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

A classic of educational criticism proves its relevance in light of today's educational quandaries

First published by McGraw-Hill in 1939, The Saber-Tooth Curriculum was a groundbreaking satire of the educational establishment, and its unwillingness to adapt to changing times. Throughout the decades, this witty work has not only become an educational classic, but has also remained as relevant and applicable to the key questions in education today as it was when first published.

With tongue firmly in cheek, Peddiwell takes on the conflicting philosophies of education, from its imagined origins at the dawn of time to its culmination in a ritualistic, deeply entrenched social institution with rigidly prescribed norms and procedures. Developed within a fanciful framework of fictional lectures, given by fictional author Professor J. Abner Peddiwell, doyen in the History of Education at Petaluma State College, this humorous fable illustrates the progress of education and gives valuable insights into how it could continue to develop in the decades to come.

About the Author

J. Abner Peddiwell was doyen of the History of Education at Petaluma State College.

Harold Benjamin was an academic, author, and publishing professional, and a prominent figure in 20th-century education.

Product Details

• Paperback: 182 pages
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill; 1 edition (March 19, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0071422889
• ISBN-13: 978-0071422888
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.2 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #95,279 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Still relevant, still unique nearly 70 years later, July 5, 2005

By 

C. Ebeling "ctlpareader" (PA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Saber-Tooth Curriculum, Classic Edition (Paperback)

I doubt THE SABER-TOOTH CURRICULUM would be produced today, a sad commentary on our times. No contemporary publisher would distribute the first edition to educators for the sake of discourse and no doubt a little shrewd marketing like McGraw did in the late 1930s, and no pointed but whimsical and very funny satire on pedagogical history in the age of theory rendered in opaque language would get very far. What is a better commentary on our times is that this wonderful book is still in print and still venerated despite the trouble it would have in getting born now.

A thumbnail sketch: a man, Raymond Wayne, the putative author (actually, the real author is Harold Raymond Wayne Benjamin, who died in 1969 and is still admired as an educational thinker), is in a bar in Tijuana, knocking back tequila daisies when he runs into his old professor, J. Abner Peddiwell, Ph.d., who, with considerable help from the daisies, agrees to embark on a seminar illustrating the history and issues of pedagogy. His witty example is told through the story of the cave man who first decided that children needed to learn the essentials of fish-grabbing, little horse clubbing and tiger-scaring. Out of this grows a complex system that includes teacher accreditation, higher education, Ph.D. programs, progressive theory, conservative theory, teacher unions, the rise of phys ed. and the question that never goes away, do we teach children how to think or what to think?

It is enlightening to read how fresh the issues are nearly 70 years later. One only wonders what hay Benjamin would make with the likes of today's educational soup of politics, law, economics and the headlining controversies that plague the profession.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I keep giving away my copy and having to buy another, April 8, 2011

By 

Molly Crocker (Ferndale, WA United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Saber-Tooth Curriculum, Classic Edition (Paperback)

Yup, the more things change the more they stay the same. Observations on education made in the 30's are highly relevant today.

I was granted a teaching certificate in 1979, earned it years later, and stumbled onto this book about 1990. I was laughing my way though it, turned to the copyright date, and was stunned to see it was already 50 years old. Now, in 2011, it's still relevant.

This is a 1-day read, highly entertaining, and spot on.

5.0 out of 5 stars Teaching What matters, October 27, 2011

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TeacherMama - See all my reviews

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This review is from: The Saber-Tooth Curriculum, Classic Edition (Paperback)

When I found this book on my list of items to read for a graduate course, I did not believe the reviews that stated a 70 year old book could still provide enlightenment on todays' issues. Coming into the education field with a background in business, I found myself not only laughing throughout parts of the book but agreeing with the author. This book brought education and business together for me.

The author is correct, today we spend too much time focusing on what worked yesterday and not wanting to change. As a result, we make excuses on why what was still could be the answer. We are all realizing that yesterday's education is no longer effective for tomorrow's students. This book is one every stakeholder should read before voting on the latest "get fixed-quick" plans for education are initiated. While this book does not offer any suggestions on how to fix the system, it does offer an interesting viewpoint on how everything went so wrong. The question thus becomes who can come up with an answer to the questions this book poses.