Perennialism came into existence in reaction to the Progressivism in the beginning of 20th century (1930). It does not accept the principles of modern society. It is also known as cultural regression. Perennialism does not accept cultural change and development process. It has always found progressivism a natural and usually a mortal enemy. This is because it is in progressivism that the influence of modern naturalism and empiricism is most clearly seen. Perennial means “everlasting”, or “long lasting” like a perennial flower that comes up year after year. Supporting the idea that some ideas have remained over countries and are as relevant today as when they were first conceived, Perennialism urges these ideas should be the focus of education. Perennialists think that the students will appreciate learning for its own sake and become true intellectuals when the students are immersed in the study of those profound and enduring ideas. For perennnialsits, the aim of education is to ensure that the students acquire understandings about the great ideas of western civilization. These ideas have the potential for solving problems in any era. The focus is to teach ideas that are ever lasting, to seek enduring truths which are constant, not to changing, as natural and human worlds at their most essential level, do not change. A perennialist views nature, human nature and the underlying principles of existence always as constant. The principles of knowledge are enduring. Truth never changes. Perennialists believe that one should teach the things that one deems to be everlasting importance to all people everywhere. They believe that the most important topics develop person. Since details of fact change constantly, these can not be the most important. Therefore, one should teach the principles not the facts. Since people are human, one should teach first about human, not about machines or techniques and since people are people first and workers second of at all, one should teach liberal topics first, not vocational topics. A particular strategy with modern perennialists teaches is to teach scientific reasoning not the facts. They may illustrate the reasoning with original accounts of famous experiments which gives the students aside to the science and shows the reasoning in action. Most importantly it shows the uncertainty and false steps of real science. Perennialism appears similar to essentialism. However, it focuses first on personal development whereas essentialism gives focus first on essential skills. So its curricula tend to be much more vocational and facts based and far less liberal and principle based. Thus we can realize that both the philosophies are typically considered to be teacher-centered and are opposed of education such as Progressivism. However, since the teachers associated with are the authors of the western masterpieces themselves, these teachers may be open to the student criticism through the associated Socratic method which, if carried out as true dialogue, is a balance including the teacher who is promoting the discussion. It focuses on a program of studies which is highly general, non specialized vocational is advocated. Exposure of all citizens to the development of thought by those most responsible for the evolution of the western tradition is integral to the survival of the freedoms, human rights and responsibilities inherent to a true Democracy. They are educationally conservative in the requirement of a curriculum focused upon fundamental subject areas but stress that the overall aim should be exposure to history’s finest thinkers as modals for discovery. Hutchins says that “Great books are great teachers; they are showing us everyday what ordinary people are capable of. These books come out of inquiring humanity. They are usually the first announcements for success in learning. Most of them were written for and addressed to, ordinary people”. “In the course of history… new books have been written that won their place in the list. It is the task of every generation to reassess the tradition in which it lives, to discard what it can not use and bring into context with the distant and intermediate past the most recent contributions to the great conservation….The west needs to recapture and re-emphasis and bring to bear upon its present problems the wisdom that lies in the works of its present problems the wisdom that lies in the works of its greatest thinkers and in the discussion that they have carried on. In fact Perennealism was a solution proposed in response to what was considered by many to be a failing educational system. Hutchins writes that “The products of American high schools are illiterate; and a degree from a famous college or university is no guarantee that the graduates is in any better case. One of the most remarkable features of American society is that the difference between the “uneducated” and the “educated” is so light”. They focus that the students should be taught basic subjects as English, languages, history, mathematics, natural science, philosophy and fine arts.
Posted on: Sat, 22 Jun 2013 06:28:50 +0000