Response to Hilda Taba's Model of Curriculum Process

I had some questions in regards to Taba’s model.  There are many elements that I really like about it.  I was quite surprised to see how teacher based it was.  Olivia and Gordon state, “Hilda Taba believed that curriculum should be designed by teachers rather than handed down by higher authority” (p. 110).  I interpret that statement in two ways.  The first is that teachers should be involved in the development of the curriculum.  I agree.  Teachers know schools best.  They work in them, they work with the kids and families.  They know them really well.  If you take teachers out of the equation when you are developing curriculum then you miss a key element that creates a disconnect.  

Oliva and Gordon then went on to state: "she felt that teachers should begin the process by creating specific teaching-learning units for the students in their schools rather than by engaging initially in creating general curriculum design." (p. 110)  This is where I got confused and a little concerned and perhaps I need further clarification.  How much freedom did Taba believe that teachers should have in terms of deciding curriuclum?  Complete control?  Where would accountability fit in here?  Could a teacher who loves math then decide to give most of her attention to mathematics and little to social studies?  Could another decide that literacy needs to focus on poetry and ignore persuasive writing?  Could key math concepts be dropped in favor of more 'fun math' (more symmetry and less division?)  What affect would a teacher's personal views and life missions have on the classroom?  Could a social change PETA advocate push her agenda in the classroom without regard for the child of a cattle rancher in her class?  Would parent and community guidance be disregarded?  Perhaps I sound too pessimistic here?  As I looked at the 5 step model on p. 111 (Fig. 5.3) I didn't seem to find that accountability piece that I saw in Tyler's model.  If everything is teacher driven, what would we lose out on?  

My understanding of the history of curriculum development is that there have been many variations of influences on curriculum.  There has been a range of educators, subject specialists, political advocates, community groups, politicians, psychologists and many others who have contributed.  For myself, a blend of these balance each other out.  While I am not a fan of a government driven, completely top down model, I don't know that a completely teacher driven model isn't the answer either.  I would worry too much about inconsistencies in the education of our children.