[sunhelen]

In the US, usually a PhD is necessary to participate in developing curriculum. Many scholars who work do this work no actual classroom experience.

In Korea the current English curriculum is not based on any research that I can determine.

In both cases, there seem to be a lot of fads.

[Denis DNT]

My options don't feature on the poll so I can't vote.

Is it right to completely leave out students and parents in curriculum development and later on worry about their complaints?

May be I am just being naughty. Spare me.

[kisito]

Quote Denis DNT

My options don't feature on the poll so I can't vote.

Is it right to completely leave out students and parents in curriculum development and later on worry about their complaints?

May be I am just being naughty. Spare me.

Good question. I think students can be represented in the curriculum development process by the teacher who understands them first hand in class. Where I teach, would be a bad idea to include parents because they themselves seldom know what is good for their kids. This only creates avenues for unpleasant exchanges. However, it is important to explain the curriculum to the parents when we are done, thereby subscribing their help in making students learn effectively.

[HUE]

Most textbook writers by the big publishers (Oxford, MacMillan, Pearson) don't have PhDs. They are (or were) teachers in the field, who then tested the material written again and again. At most universities, the professors choose the textbooks for the class, too.

Here's a job ad with TESOL Journal for someone to put together curriculum, and it doesn't require a PhD: Job Opening: Instructional Designer at McGraw-Hill [TESOL Career Center]

That said, I would hope that the curriculum designers have a good understanding of pedagogy.