Perennial means “everlasting,” like a perennial flower that comes up year after

year. Espousing the notion that some ideas have lasted over centuries and are as relevant
today as when they were first conceived
Perennialism:
- Beliefs that society + education is unchanged over century
- The most conservative , traditional or inflexible of all
- Able to solve problems of any era
- It says that one should teach principles, not facts.
- Focuses first on personal development
- Comes from the word perennial meaning everlasting
- A teacher centered philosophy that emphasizes the importance of transferring
knowledge ,information, and skills from the older (presumably wiser) generation to the
younger one

Perennialism philosophy of education is a very conservative and inflexible philosophy

of education. Students are taught to reason through structured lessons and drills. Even the
national standards that are coming into place emphasize the ideas of Perennialism. As now days
we are stressing reading, writing and arithmetic in education but the decline of the music and art.
Teaching the students for job and the knowledge is what we need today so Perennialism
philosophy of education is what helps in educators is to equip them with “universal knowledge

Perennialism is the preferred educational term because of the insistence of philosophers

associated with the position that there are certain everlasting values to which we must return and
which much be brought to the attention of all youth in the schools.

Perennialists believe that the focus of education should be the ideas that have lasted over
centuries. They believe the ideas are as relevant and meaningful today as when they were
written. They recommend that students learn from reading and analyzing the works by history's
finest thinkers and writers. Perennialist classrooms are also centered on teachers in order to
accomplish these goals. The teachers are not concerned about the students' interests or
experiences. They use tried and true teaching methods and techniques that are believed to be
most beneficial to disciplining students' minds. The perennialist curriculum is universal and is
based on their view that all human beings possess the same essential nature. Perennialists think it
is important that individuals think deeply, analytically, flexibly, and imaginatively. They
emphasize that students should not be taught information that may soon be outdated or found to
be incorrect. Perennialists disapprove of teachers requiring students to absorb massive amounts
of disconnected information. They recommend that schools spend more time teaching about
concepts and explaining they are meaningful to students. The only example I can think of would
be a class about religion or history. The instructor would use religious books and historical
documents.

Purpose of Schooling:
  The purpose of schooling is basically to connect with God, and preparation for life and
that it is a life long process.
 They also like to teach the eternal truths,cultivate the rational intellect, and develop a
spiritual nature for one self. 
 The Highest goal of education is union with God 
The Nature of the Learner
 Believes all students are rational beings for examples of value and worth.
 Students have been gifted with an intellect and a soul.

Shows some values a person can have

Curriculum:
  Most perennialists stress a strong liberal arts curriculum that includes subjects as
philosophy, mathematics, history, geography, political science, sociology, theology,
languages, and literature, physical and life sciences, and the fine arts and humanities. If
these subjects are highly studied and mastered then you completed necessary training for
a well developed intellect. A combination of all these subjects construct a well rounded
curriculum. 
 The Great Books are what perennialists mean when they talk about literature. 
Aim of education

- To educate the rational person; to cultivate the intellect

- Aims to develop students intellectual and moral qualities
- To ensure that students acquire understandings about the great of western civilization

Focus of curriculum

- Classical subjects, literary analysis and curriculum is constant

 - They recommend that students learn from reading and analyzing the works by history’s
finest thinkers and writers. ( perennialists think it is important that individuals think
deeply , analytically, flexibly and imaginatively
- Is universal and is based on their view that all human beings possess the same essential
nature.
- Focuses on attaining cultural literacy, stressing students’ growth in enduring disciplines

Curriculum trends

- Use of great books and return to liberal arts

Methods of Teaching

- Subject centered
- Methods of disciplining the mind through reading and discussion
- Didactic instruction
o Teacher centered method of instruction
o The teacher delivers and the students receives
o Coaching
- socractic method:
-critical thinking
Questioning strategies
Discussion
Lecture

Roles of Teachers

- Teachers help students think with reason

- A known master of discipline.

Character development
- Develop the intellect of all learners and prepare them for life

Perennialists

Robert Maynard Hutchins (1929-1951) – “Education implies teaching. Teaching implies

knowledge. Knowledge is truth. The truth everywhere is the same. Hence, education should be
everywhere the same.”

Mortimer J. Adler (1902-2001) – great proponent of Perennialism

Jacques Maritain (1882-1973)

Perennialist believe..
 - That they should teach things of universal importance to the humankind
- That the focus of education should be the ideas they have lasted over centuries.
- The ideas are a relevant and meaningful today as when they were written

Prepared by:

Ms. Jacqueline B. Guardiana

MaEd major in Educational Management