PERENNIALISM

AGUSTINA G. BAJAR
PRESENTER
The Advocates:
ROBERT MAYNARD HUTCHINS
(1899-1977)

 Leading perennialist spokesman in America

 Former chancellor of the University of Chicago
 Hutchins favors the school offering what he
calls a “liberal education”. This would include
emphasizing: logic, mathematics, the discipline
of language and science and history.
 These studies supposedly relate to the timeless
truths of all mankind(perennial truths) and help
us to think logically.
 MORTIMER J. ADLER
(1902-2001)
 Great proponent of Perennialism and professor of Philosophy
at Columbia University
 “An individual learns best by studying the classics.”
 He wrote the Paidea Proposal – seeks to establish a course of
study that is general, not specialized; liberal not vocational;
humanistic, not technical.
 “Education should adjust man to the truth which is eternal,
while the contemporary is not.”
 “Education implies teaching. Teaching implies knowledge.
Knowledge is truth. The truth everywhere is the same. Hence,
education should be everywhere the same.”
 “Education is not an imitation of life but a preparation for it.”
PERENNIALISM
 It is the oldest and most traditional educational philosophy.

 The word “perennial” means everlasting

 Holds that education should be the same everywhere, for

everyone.
 Aims to develops student’s intellectual and moral qualities
PERENNIALISM
 They emphasize that students should not be taught information
that may soon be outdated or found to be incorrect.

 Classrooms are centered on teachers.

 Itensures that students acquire understanding about the great

ideas of Western civilization.
PERENNIALISM
 Perennialismteaches concepts and focuses on knowledge and
the meaning of knowledge.

 Aimed at teaching student’s ways of thinking that will secure

individual freedoms, human rights, and responsibilities through
the nature.
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 in any era.

 The sources of knowledge are the Great Books.

 Example: Philosophical and Religious works of:

“ Wise men talk

because they have
something to say; fools
because they have to
say something.”

PLATO
 “ Educating the mind
without educating the
heart is no education at
all.”

ARISTOTLE
 “ It was pride that
changed angels into
devils; it is humility
that makes men as
angels.”

ST. AUGUSTINE
“ To one who has faith
no explanation is
necessary. To one
without faith, no
explanation is
possible.”

ST. THOMAS AQUINAS

Why is it called Teacher-Centered?
 Emphasize the importance of transferring knowledge, information
and skills from the older generation to younger ones.

 The teacher is not concern at the student’s interest.

 More focus on the curriculum and nature need.

 The teacher set everything based on the syllabus.

The Focus:

 Is to teach ideas that are everlasting

 To seek enduring truths which are constant, as the natural

and human worlds at their most essential level, do not
change.
Curriculum
 Focuseson attaining cultural literacy, stressing student’s
growth in enduring disciplines.
 They recommend that students learn from reading and
analyzing the works by history’s finest thinkers and
writers.

 Content
is learn through memorization, drill, repetition,
and mental discipline.
Curriculum

 Perennialists
believe that reading is to be supplemented
with mutual investigations (between the teacher and the
students) and minimally-directed discussion through the
Socratic method in order to develop a historically oriented
understanding of concepts.
Why should perennialism be applied in teaching?

 Personal development of the students through inculcating in them the

principles that have been passed from generation to generation.

 These principles are likely to make one develop a good personality and
morality if learned and applied in life.

 Willbe useful in later life specially when learners begin to appreciate the
need to be educated of the facts and knowledge.
Perennialism
Thank you