Perennialism

First what is perennialism?

Perennialism is a teacher-centered educational philosophy
that focuses on everlasting ideas and universal truths.
To clarify, Perennialism suggests that the focus of education
should be the ideas that have lasted for centuries believing the
ideas are as relevant and meaningful today as when they were
written.
This educational philosophy aims to prepare students for life by
developing their intellectual and moral qualities through
emphasizing knowledge and the meaning of knowledge, servings
to enhance student’s critical thinking skills in their search for
individual freedoms, human rights and responsibilities through
nature.
What is the meaning of perennialism in education?
Perennialism values knowledge that transcends time. This is a
subject-centered philosophy. The goal of a perennialist educator is
to teach students to think rationally and develop minds that can
think critically.

WHO IS THE PROPONENT OF PERENNIALISM

The proponent and philosopher of perennialism Thomas Aquinas, OP
was an Italian Dominican friar and priest who was an influential
philosopher, theologian and jurist in the tradition of scholasticism; he is
known within the tradition as the Doctor Angelicus, the Doctor
Communis, and the Doctor Universalis. Wikipedia
Born: 1225, Roccasecca, Italy
Died: March 7, 1274, Abbazia di Fossanova, Fossanova Abbey, Italy
Influenced by: Aristotle, Plato, Cicero, Peter Lombard
Education: Abbey of Monte Cassino; University of Naples; University of
Paris
Canonized: 18 July 1323, Avignon, Papal States by Pope John XXII
Era: Medieval philosophy

WHY DO WE NEED TO TEACH PERENNIALISM

We are all rational animals. Schools should, therefore, develop the
students' rational and moral powers. According to Aristotle, if we
neglect the students' reasoning skills, we deprive them of the ability to
use their higher faculties to control their passions and appetites.
WHAT ARE WE GOING TO TEACH?
The perennialist curriculum is a universal one on the view that all
human beings possess the same essential nature. It is heavy on the
humanities, on general education. It is not a specialist curriculum but
rather a general one. There is less emphasis on vocational and technical
education. Philosopher Mortimer Adler claims that the Great Books of
ancient and medieval as well as modern times are a repository of
knowledge and wisdom, a tradition of culture which must initiate each
generation". What the perennialist teachers teach are lifted from the
Great Books.
HOW TO TEACH THE PERENNIALISM?
The perennialist classrooms are "centered around teachers"... The
teachers do not allow the students' interests or experiences to
substantially dictate what they teach. They apply whatever creative
techniques and other tried and true methods which are believed to be
most conducive to disciplining the students minds.... Students engaged
in Socratic dialogues, or mutual inquiry sessions to develop an
understanding of history's most timeless concepts".

What is the role of the student in perennialism education?

The students are supposed to learn the "truth" as taught to them by
the teacher. Since truth does not change, students' interests or
experiences are not reflected in what is taught in a Perennialist
classroom. In fact, the issue of diversity is not even relevant, because
learning is not about diversity.

WHAT IS THE GOAL OF PERENNIALISM

The goal of a perennialist education is to teach students to think
rationally and develop minds that can think critically.
A perennialist classroom aims to be a closely organized and well-
disciplined environment, which develops in students a lifelong quest for
the truth. Perennialists believe that education should epitomize a
prepared effort to make these ideas available to students and to guide
their thought processes toward the understanding and appreciation of the
great works, works of literature written by history’s finest thinkers that
transcend time and never become outdated.
What is the concept of perennialism?
Perennialism values knowledge that transcends time. This is a subject-
centered philosophy. The goal of a perennialist educator is to teach
students to think rationally and develop minds that can think critically.

What is perennialism in teacher centered?

Perennialism is a teacher centered philosophy that focuses on the
values associated with reason. It considers knowledge as enduring,
seeks everlasting truths, and views principles of existence as constant
or unchanging.

What are the characteristics of perennialism?

Perennialism in education includes the teaching of evergreen ideas, or
principles that have remained constant throughout human history.
Perennialist teachers support students to participate in the Great
Conversation, which is a dialogue that takes place within classical works
and that transcends time. For example, Shakespeare's Macbeth teaches
us about the dangers of ambition and corruption in the government.

What is the role of the teacher in perennialism?

In perennialism, the teacher uses a subject and instruction-based
format in which all students are treated the same, and in which the
content is the focus. Perennialist teachers are not worried about
differentiation or individualism, rather they are focused on the teaching
of universal truths to support intellect above all else.