essentialism and perennialism

Essentialism

concept of universal education; the belief that there is essential knowledge that everyone in a given culture must have in order to be a knowledgeable and fully participating member of that culture.

It is the school’s responsibility to provide that knowledge.

It states that the students should be provided with the basic education so that it develops their knowledge as well as helps in character building. 

instill all students with the most essential or basic academic knowledge and skills and character development.

founder of essentialist educational theory

Emphasizes rigorous teacher-centered education vs. child-centered learning

William C. Bagley

Essentialists believe……

students should learn from established fundamentals of education

students should study the sensible and wise subjects like literature, philosophy, science and other subjects related to the great works

there is a common core of knowledge that needs to be transmitted to students in a systematic, disciplined way

The child is a learner to be shaped and developed

Education is a preparation for life, it is not an imitation of life

Curriculum….

• essential knowledge and skills and academic rigor• based on traditional disciplines such as math, natural science, history, language, and literature

Teacher’s Role

• As an expert

• Impart essential knowledge

•Direct focused tasks

Student’s Role

•Listen and learn

•Trust that the teacher knows best

Perennialism

Perennialism means that one should teach the things that one deems to be of “everlasting’’ importance to all people everywhere. - it says that one should teach principles, not facts.

• a strategy that teaches scientific reasoning, not facts, this gives the students a human side to the science, and shows the reasoning in action 

•focuses first on personal development.

Mortimer Adler

great proponent of Perennialism

Perennialists believe….

that they should teach the things of universal importance to the humankind

that the focus of education should be the ideas that have lasted over centuries.

the ideas are as relevant and meaningful today as when they were written

Curriculum….

•is universal and is based on their view that all human beings possess the same essential nature.

• focuses on attaining cultural literacy, stressing students' growth in enduring disciplines.

Perennialists disapprove of teachers requiring students to absorb massive amounts of disconnected information

recommend that schools spend more time teaching about concepts and explaining they are meaningful to students

Thank You!