PERENNIALISM

What is Perennialism

Comes from the word perennial meaning

everlasting.

Perennialists like to teach time-honored curricula,

including the classics such as Plato and Aristotle

They dont like change.

INTRODUCTION
In PERENNIALISM, it is believed that one
should teach the things that one deems to be of
everlasting importance to all people
everywhere. Since details of fact change
constantly, these cannot be the most important

INTRODUCTION Cont
Therefore, one should teach
principles, not facts. Since people are
human, one should teach first about
humans, not machines or techniques.

Two kinds of Perennialism in

Education
Secular Perennialism :
Believe in one ultimate
truth, and different version of it spring up
again year after year.
Religious Perennialism :
Believe that education is a
preparation of life. Learning is a life long
process. And education is union with
GOD.

General Principles of
Perennialism
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Permanence (stability) is more real than

change
Human nature remains essentially the
same no matter the culture
Moral principles remain essentially the
same.
Educations task is to import knowledge of
eternal truth.
Students should study the great works of
literature, philosophy, history and science.

Advocates of Perennialism

Robert Hutchins
Perennialist educator who strongly

believed in having traditional liberal arts in

all schools
Introduced the Great Books program
Wanted NO extracurricular activities in
schoolssaid they were irrelevant to the
learning process

People of Perennialism

Mortimer Adler
Helped Hutchins organize the Great Books

program
Proposed a single elementary and
secondary curriculum for all students, with
no curricular electives except the choice of
a second language

Perennialism in the
Classroom

Students spend most of their time

mastering the three Rs- reading,
riting, rithmetic
Greatest importance placed on reading
Teach values and character training
through discussions about underlying
values and moral principles in stories
Only elective is the choice of second
language

Perennialism in the
Classroom continued

Schools are organized around books,

ideas, and concepts
Teach from the Great Books-works by
historys finest thinkers and writers
Teachers do not lecture but lead and
facilitate discussions

Perennialism in the
Classroom Continued

Role of the Teacher

Teach time-honored classics
Lifelong Learner
Discussion LeaderNot Lecturer

Role of the Student

Active Thinker/Learner

Perennialism in the
Classroom continued

Teaching Tools

Standardized Tests
Teacher-made tests
Memorization
Classic Books

Classroom Management

Orderly rows
Neat/Clean room
Strict rules
Punishment/Rewards

Perennialism in the
classroom
Preferred Teaching Methods:
Like the essentialists, perennialists use a
lot of teacher telling. In other words, they like
the lecture method. However, it is not their
favorite method. Perennialists frequently use
catechism. This is simply a refined version of the
recitation method where the student lectures
back to the teacher. All of the questions relevant
to the subject matter are ordered and organized in
a published list. Each question has one and only
one correct answer. The student commits both the
question and the answer to memory

Perennialism in the
classroom
Subject Matter
Concerns about teaching the basics in school.
Emphasize subjects such as: logic, mathematics, art ,
literature.
Discipline
Seek to impose a system of control on
student and back it up with an
assortment of punishment.

Perennialism in classroom
continued.
Testing and Evaluation:
With the regard to testing and evaluation,
perennialists tend to use both essay and
objective written examinations to see if
their students minds have been disciplined
to clear thinking. In addition, perennialists
do oral quizzing as, for example, when they
listen to a student recite a catechism.