Perennialists’ perspectives: curriculum & role of a teacher.

In educational philosophy, Perennialism plays a crucial role. Today we will discuss Perennialism and Perennialists’ perspectives regarding curriculum and the role of a teacher.

Perennialism is a term that emerged from Perennial that means “Remains for a long time” or “Everlasting”, and it is derived from realism and idealism. In reality this term, Perennialism is connected with the perennial flower which grows year after year. The term Perennialism can be found in the philosophy of Aristotle, Plato, and St. Thomas Aquinas.

Perennialists’ view regarding Education:

The followers of “Perennialism” is called perennialists. The role of Perennialists in the field of education is significant. As they believe that the purpose of education is to ensure that a student must obtain understanding and enormous ideas related to Western civilization. 

Perennialists’ view regarding education is unique and different as they believe to make students true intellectuals, then a teacher must involve them in profound and long-lasting ideas in this way a student will value learning for its own sake and can become renowned intellectuals. Moreover, they prioritize western principles and have declared them fundamental in teaching, because for them, western principles contain ideas and concepts that are perennial, and therefore, the main purpose of education should be those teachings that lasted for centuries to centuries.

Why do Perennialists rely upon Western civilization?

The Perennialists highly rely upon Western civilization as for them Western civilization owns such great ideas that are long-lasting, unchangeable, and have the potential for solving the problems of any era. So, it is a must to teach students constant, fixed, and unchanged western civilization principles of the natural and human worlds. In this way, a child will become able to accept his place in society and live according to a tested and long tradition.

The Curriculum from the Perennialists' point of view:

Since the curriculum is generally designed for the modification of students’ behavior. In the same way, the Perennialists suggest a specific form of curriculum that should be taught to students. So, in this section, we will discuss the curriculum from the Perennialists’ perspective.

Perennialists believe in classical subjects and literary analysis. They consider the curriculum as fixed and constant. The curriculum according to Perennialists should focus on the enhancement of students in enduring disciplines and cultural literacy. Because, these are the fields where the loftiest accomplishment for humankind exist, and they will never change at any cost even in the future too. The curriculum from the Perennialists’ point of view lies in the great works of literature, art, and the principles of science, and therefore, they endorse that students should learn by reading and exploring the works of renowned historical writers and thinkers.

Recommended: Critical Study: Lawrence Kohlberg’s Theory of moral development

Moreover, Perennialists suggest schools focus on the academic curriculum based upon a collection of human knowledge and classic subjects. Through, these subjects we can train students impeccably and make them intellectual in a broader way. As a result, students will emerge as worthy leaders in society.

Apart from that, Perennialists also emphasize that schools should not centre on the immediate needs of society, and the narrow and fleeting interests of students, because for these objectives, we have other available social institutes. So, we should teach ideas to the students that live for a long time

Role of a teacher from the Perennialists’ perspective:

Like curriculum, Perennialists also recommend some suggestions for a teacher to acquire true learning objectives. So, in this section, we will discuss the role of a teacher from the Perennialists’ perspective.

According to Perennialists, the role of a teacher is more important than that of the curriculum for a student's academic excellence. As teachers are true models for a student.

Perennialists propose that teachers adopt the teaching methods and techniques that are believed to be the most advantageous for students’ minds. They also propound that teachers must avoid teaching information that can be outdated or may be found to be inaccurate in the future. Therefore, they are not in favor of diminished information but rather in favor of meaningful concepts which provides better assistance to the student to build up their nation and emerge as a great leader. Thus, achieving these objectives, Perennialists say the role of the teacher will be very pivotal, and for this, a teacher attains the Perennialists teaching methods in their teaching.