1. PERENNIALISM
Cantessa Puckett
EDU 513

2. What is Perennialism
Comes from the word perennial meaning everlasting.
A very conservative and inflexible philosophy of education.
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 says since people are human, one should teach first about humans, not machines or techniques.

3. Two kinds of Perennialism in Education
Secular Perennialism – the word perennial suggests something that lasts for an indefinite long time, recurs again and again, or is self-renewing.
Perennialism is learning to reason
Advocates using original work in education
Comprises the humanist and scientific traditions
Formulated in the 20th century by Robert Hutchins and Mortimer Adler

4. Two kinds of Perennialism in Education
Religious Perennialism – focuses on the personal development of the student, and says that all learning could not come from within.
First developed by Thomas Aquinas
Religious Perennialism continues to shape the nature of Catholic schools throughout the world

5. General Principles of Perennialism
Permanence is more real than change
Human nature remains essentially the same no matter the culture
The good life-the life that is fit for man/woman to live-remains essentially the same
Moral principles remain essentially the same
Education that men/women receive should remain essentially the same

6. People 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 schools…said they were irrelevant to the learning process
Stated that textbooks “have probably done as much to degrade the American intelligence as any single force.”
Professor and Dean at Yale Law School

7. 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
Professor of Philosophy at Columbia University

8. 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

9. Perennialism in the Classroom continued…
Few, if any, textbooks
Schools are organized around books, ideas, and concepts
Teach from the Great Books-works by history’s finest thinkers and writers
Teachers do not lecture but lead and facilitate discussions

10. Perennialism in the Classroom Continued…
Role of the Teacher
Teach time-honored classics
Lifelong Learner
Discussion Leader…Not Lecturer
Role of the Student
Active Thinker/Learner

11. 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

12. Does Perennialism Still Exist??
Perennialism was started in the 1930s
Perennialism IS still around
St. John’s College in Annapolis, Maryland
Adopted the Great Books as a core curriculum in 1937
Readings in Literature, Philosophy, Theology, History, Social Sciences, Mathematics, and Music
Students write extensively and attend weekly seminars to discuss assigned readings

13. More on St. John’s College
Grades are given but students only receive their grades upon request
Expected to learn for learning’s sake
Thrives in small-group atmosphere
2nd campus opened in 1964 in Santa Fe, New Mexico

14. How Perennialism fits with Content Standards
The high school reading standards sound very similar to the ideas of Perennialism.

15. ??? About Perennialism
With this philosophy, what happens to the students who are poor readers or who do not like to read? Are we setting them up for failure?
Research showed that religious schools use the Perennialism philosophy…why?
Are electives really not important?
How can teachers teach all subjects without the use of textbooks?

16. References www.oregonstate.edu www.successfuleducation.info
Ediger, M. (1997). Influence of ten leading educators of American education. Education, 118(2), 267. Retrieved from EBSCOhost.
Perennialism (2003). Retrieved from
Sadker, D., Zittleman, K. Teachers, Schools, and Society: A Brief Introduction to Education. p Retrieved from