Critical Concept Journal-8

Theories and Education: Perennialism

Perennialism is an educational theory which takes its ideas mostly from realism (Aristotle
and Thomas Aquinas). Perennialists think that truth and reality are objective and not
changing. They are not relative to or particularistic based on time, place, culture, person, or
situation. We as humans are rationale and cultivating rationality of students is an aim of
perennialist education. These are realistic approaches of perennialism. Because truth is
universal, education should be universal too, so teaching everlasting ideas is important. In
perennialism developing the mind is the main motto.

I don’t think reality and knowledge are universal, I am pragmatist at this point because
knowledge and reality can change in different places, times and circumstances. It is mostly
related to the person’ s experience with that knowledge. Reality and knowledge are subjective
to one’s experience with it. Also, I don’t think education should be universal. Actually, every
person is different and need special education, but we can’t create a school fort the
individualistic interests of everyone, but school should include a lot of extracurricular
activities that appeal every student so that everyone can choose subjects or activities that
interest and develop themselves. Schools shouldn’t be jut academic institutions and shouldn’t
just focus on the developing rationality but should develop students in every aspect like
physical, rationale, psychological, social, emotional, moral and so forth.

Schools’ role is fostering students’ intellectual development and make them familiar with the
western cultural heritage. Perennialists are against multipurpose schooling because schools
are not multipurpose agencies. Subject matter curriculum includes disciplines based on the
liberal arts and sciences such as mathematic, history, literature, science, music, art,
language…Reading classics, great books of western civilization is important. Teachers
should have immense knowledge and understanding of the liberal arts and science. Teacher
should teach and make students participated in discussions about the great books of western
world. Teacher should have the skill to teach students how to understand and analyze a
classic. I think at this point -reading classics- perennialists have some tendencies to idealist
ideas too.

I think schools can be multipurpose because this will enhance creativity, and it will lead
students to realize their interests. Socratic method used in class discussions about the great
books is meaningful to me because it is a way of enhancing critical thinking, creativity and
inquiry skills. We shouldn’t believe in things without inquire, analyze, ask questions about
them.

REFERENCE

 Gutek, G.L. (2000). Perennialism and education. In Philosophical and Ideological

Perspectives on Education (pp. 340-352), 3rd ed., Allyn & Bacon, Boston, MA.
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3H0DbcDbIbs&t=384s – 5 educational
philosophies

Gamze Nur Aslan – 2297315

Educational Philosophy- section 2