1. Philosophical Foundations of U.S. Schools
Chapter 4
Philosophical Foundations of U.S. Schools
Developed by:
Don Finn
Regent University

2. Beliefs and Your Philsophy

3. 5 Modern Philosophies of Teaching

4. Perennialism
Perennialism
Students should acquire knowledge of enduring great ideas.

5. Perennialism
Aim of education is students acquire knowledge about the great ideas of Western culture.
Human beings are rational and it is this capacity that needs to be developed.
Cultivation of the intellect is the highest priority of an education worth having.
Influential Prennennialist: Robert Hutchins, Mortimer Adler

6. Perennialism Inventory Items
The universal constant in human nature is the ability to reason
the sole focus of education should be to develop reasoning ability.
Teachers should promote the permanency of the “classics”, not practical preparation for life.
The aim of Education should be the same in every age and society, not different from teacher to teacher.

7. Perennialism Inventory Items
The ultimate aim of education is
develop the rational person &
cultivate the intellect
The curriculum should be the same for everyone: the collective wisdom of Western culture
delivered through lecture and discussion.
The best education consist primarily of exposure to great works in the humanities.

8. Objective and Essay Exam The Perennalist Teacher
Perennialism
Truth as Constant
Purpose of Schooling
Teach Eternal Truths – Ideas that are Everlasting
Acquire knowledge of the great ideas of Western Civilization.
Nature of Learner
Rational Being with a Soul
Curriculum
Liberal Arts
Philosophy, Mathematics, History,
Geography, Political Science, Sociology, Theology,
Foreign Language, Science
Fine Arts, Great Books, Character Training
Instructional Method
Didactic Instruction (Teacher Centered)
Coaching, Socratic Method, Critical thinking,
Discussion, Lecture
Classroom Management
Train the will, Time on Task, Precision, Order, structure, Regularity, Prayer
Assessment
Objective and Essay Exam
The Perennalist Teacher
Educated in Liberal Arts
Authority Figure
Disseminator of “Truth”
Intellectual Coach
Logical, Well Versed in classics, Scholar
Perennialist You should know
Robert Hutchins, Mortimer Adler
Paideia Proposal – University of Chicago

9. Mortimer J. Adler Who is the Best Teacher Inspiration in the Classroom
Interview Link
Inquiry Learning
Learner Gives Birth to Ideas
Instruction—Aided Discovery
STOP at 3:00

10. Great Books C-SPAN Link
Link to Video:
Introducing the Great Books of the Western World
Shakespheare
Jonathan Swift
Jane Austen
Charles Dickens
Herman Melville
Mark Twain
F.Scott Fitzgerald
George Orwell
William Faulkner
Link to Book List
Understand our society & ourselves

11. Intellectual Coaching
Three Columns of Instruction
Didactic Instruction
(Teacher Centered)
10-15 % of Time
Delivery of Must-know factual Information
Lecture, Demonstration, videos, & Reading
Goal: Student Acquire vocabulary, names, dates, places & Other Facts.
Leads to acquiring organized knowledge
Intellectual Coaching
70% of Time
Instructional Strategies include: Modeling & Questioning
Goal: Students develop Master Skills: Reading, Writing, Speaking, Listening, & Thinking
Leads to Development of Intellectual Skills
Socratic Seminar
15-20% of Time
Collaborative, Intellectual Dialogue facilitated by open-ended questions about a text.
Goal: Deepen understanding of ideas, concepts, & Values
Lead to increased understanding of ideas & Values

12. Link to Paideia (NC)
Link to Paideia Video Overview
Link to Video (Socratic Seminar -2nd Gr)
Link to Power of Socratic Seminar in the Classroom

13. 4 Parts of a Socratic Seminar
Link to Video: Difference between a student-led discussion and Socratic Seminar (3:53)
Link: Part 1 Elements of a Socratic Seminar (Text)
Link: Part 2 Elements of a Socratic Seminar
(Questions)
Link: Part 3 Elements of a Socratic Seminar (Dual Role of the Leader)
Link: Part 4 Elements of a Socratic Seminar (Student Responbilities)