The document discusses the philosophy of perennialism in education. It advocates for developing students' rational and moral powers through a universal, humanities-focused curriculum drawn from great books of history. Perennialism aims to cultivate students' higher thinking abilities and help them gain control over passions through reason. In the classroom, teachers take a central role in disciplining students' minds through techniques like Socratic dialogue that focus on timeless concepts from history.

1. PERENNIALISM

3. We are all rational animals.
Schools should, therefore, develop the
students’ rational and moral powers.
According to Aristotle, if we neglect the
students’ reasoning skills, we deprive them
of the ability to use their higher faculties to
control their passions and appetites.

5. The perrenialist curriculum is a
universal one on the view that all
human beings possess the same
essential nature.
It is heavy on the humanities,
on general education.
It is not specialist curriculum
but rather a general one.

6. There is less emphasis on vocational
and technical education.
Philosopher Mortimer Adler claims
that the “Great Books of ancient and
medieval as well as modern times are a
repository of knowledge and wisdoms, a
tradition of culture which must initiate
each generation”.
What the perrenialist teachers teach
are lifted from the Great Books.

8. The perrenialist classrooms are “centered around
teachers”.
The trachers do not allow the students interests or
experiences to substantially dictate what they
teach.
The apply whatever creative techniques and other
tried and true methods which are believed to be
most conducive to disciplining the students’ minds.
Students engaged in Socratic dialogues, or mutual
inquiry sessions to develop an understanding of
history's most timeless concepts.