TEACHER-

CENTERED
PHILOSOPHIES
Teacher-centered Philosophies of education require that
children are educated using certain methods put into action
by their teacher. WHAT IS A
 These philosophies emphasize the importance of
transferring knowledge, information, and skills from the
TEACHER
older generation to the younger one. CENTERED
PHILOSOP
 In teacher-centered philosophies, the teacher’s role is to
impart a respect for authority, determination, a strong work
ethic, compassion for others, and sensibility.
HY?
 TWO MAJOR
EDUCATIONAL
PHILOSOPHIES
ESSENTIALISM and
PERENNIALISM
Essentialism
 Is an educational philosophy of teaching basic skills.
 This philosophy advocates training the mind.
 Subjects are focused on the historical context of the material
WHAT IS
world and culture, and move sequentially to give a solid
understanding of the present day. ESSENTIALIS
 This philosophy stresses core knowledge in reading, writing,
math, science, history, foreign language, and technology.
M?
 Tools included lecturing, memorization, repetition, practice,
and assessment. ( teaching methods in essentialism )
 “Essentialism is not an imitation of life, but a preparation for
life.”
 WILLIAM C.
BAGLEY (1874-
1946)
 An american educator that popularized the term “
essentialism” in the 1930’s
 An important historical essentialist.
 Most influential advocates of essentialism.
 He believed that education was not supposed to
change society but to preserve it.
Perennialism
 Derived from the word perennial, which means to endure the
test of time.
 Originally religious in nature, developed first by Thomas
Aquinas in the 13th century in his work De Magistro ( the
teacher).
WHAT IS
 Perennialism is a philosophical and literary theory that PERENNIALI
argues for the existence of universal truths.
 An educational philosophy that states one should teach things
SM?
that are of “everlasting” importance to all people everywhere.
 Focused on the development of the mind through theory and
timeless principles that teach what it means to be a human.
 TWO TYPES
OF
PERENNIALIS
M
SECULAR PERENNIALISM and RELIGIOUS
PERENNIALISM
SECULAR PERENNIALISM
 Promoted by Robert Hurtchins and Mortimer Adler.
 Comprises the humanist and scientific traditions.
RELIGIOUS
RELIGIOUS PERENNIALISM
 religious or theistic perennialism was first developed
AND
by Thomas Aquinas in the 13th century. SECULAR
 focuses on the personal development of the students, PERENNIALIS
and say that all the learning could not come from
within. M
 PEOPLE IN
PERENNIALISM
 ROBERT
HUTCHINS

 A perennialism educator who strongly believed

in having traditional liberal arts in schools
 Introduced the Great Books program
 Professor and Dean at Yale Law School
 MORTIMER
ADLER

 Helped Hutchins organize the Great Books Program

 Proposed a single elementary and secondary curriculum
for all students, with no curricula electives except the
choice of a second language.
 Professor of philosophy at Columbia University.
QUIZ TIME!