Perennialism

Aims to develop students intellectual and

moral qualities.

They emphasize that students should not be

taught information that may soon be
outdated or found to be incorrect.
 Perennialism

Classrooms are centered on teachers.

It ensures that students acquire

understandings about the great ideas of
Western civilization.
 Perennialism
Perennialism teaches concepts and focuses on
knowledge and the meaning of knowledge.

Aimed at teaching students ways of

thinking that will secure individual
freedoms, human rights, and responsibilities
through the nature.
 Why is it called teacher-
centered?

Emphasize the importance of transferring

knowledge, information and skills from the
older generation to the younger one.

The teacher is not concern at the students

interest.
Why is it called teacher-
centered?
More focus on the curriculum and nature
need.

The teacher set everything based on the

syllabus.
 The great ideas in western
civilization are:
History
Religion
Works of literature and art
The laws and principles of Science

These ideas have the potential for solving

problems in any era.
 Focus of Perennialism

Is to teach ideas that are everlasting.

To seek enduring truths which are constant

(not changing), as the natural and human
worlds at their most essential level, do not
change.
Perennialism Curriculum
Focuses on attaining cultural literacy, stressing students
growth in enduring disciplines.

They recommend that students learn from

reading and analyzing the works by historys
finest thinkers and writers.
Perennialism Curriculum

Perennialists think it is important that

individuals think deeply, analytically,
flexibly and imaginatively.
Perennialism Curriculum

Perennialists believe that reading is to be

supplemented with mutual investigations
(between the teacher and the student) and
minimally-directed discussions through the
Socratic method in order to develop a
historically oriented understanding of
concepts.
Perennialism Curriculum

A skilled teacher would keep

discussions on topic and correct
errors in reasoning, but it would
be the class, not the teacher, who
would reach the conclusions.
The Advocates of
Perennialism
ROBERT MAYNARD HUTCHINS
Developed a Great Books program in 1963.

MORTIMER J. ADLER
[1902-2001]

JACQUES MARITAIN
[1882-1973]
 Adler for Perennialism

our political democracy depends upon the

reconstruction of our schools. Our schools are
not turning out young people prepared for the
high office and the duties of citizenship in a
democratic republic. Our political institutions
cannot thrive, they may not even survive, if we
do not produce a greater number of thinking
citizens, from
 Adler for Perennialism

whom some statesmen of the type we

had in the 18th century might eventually
emerge. We are, indeed, a nation at risk, and
nothing but radical reform of our schools can
save us from impending
disasterwhatever the pricethe price we
will pay for not doing it will be much greater.
 Hutchins for Perennialism

new books have been written that have won

their place in the list. Books once thought
entitled to belong to it have been superseded; and
this process of change will continue as long as men
can think and write. It is the task of every generation
to reassess the tradition in which it lives, to discard
what it cannot use, and to bring into context with
Hutchins for Perennialism

the distant and intermediate past the most

recent contributions to the Great
conversationthe West needs to recapture and
reemphasize and bring to bear upon its present
problems the wisdom that lies in the works of
its greatest thinkers and in the discussion that
they have carried on.
 Perennialist Think:
Perennialism believed it was a
solution proposed in response
to what was considered by
many to be a failing
educational system.
 References
EBSCO Research Starters Copyright 2008
EBSCO Publishing Inc.

Contemporary Theories of Education by Richard

Pratte.

Philosophy and the American School by Van Cleve

Morris.

http://www.everythingphilosophy.com/philosophy-
of-education/