Name of Student: Mary Angellie T. Ibrahim
Task 1. Briefly discuss perennialism, as a philosophy in education. Focus on the key
words.
Ex. Perennialism as a Philosophy focus on effectiveness over efficiency . You are to
differentiate effectiveness from efficiency. When are going to say that you are
efficient? effective? Why does perennialism rally on effectiveness over efficiency.
(Find more interesting facts about perennialism and focus on them.) 25pts.
Perennialism as a philosophy that focuses on quality over quantity. Quality means an
inherent feature in education that is more important to be taught to the student like how
to think deeply, analytically, flexibly, and imaginatively while quantity means the amount
or number of a material or immaterial thing not usually estimated by spatial
measurement which are liberation of information that might be soon outdated or found
to be incorrect.
Perennialists disapprove of teachers requiring students to absorb massive amounts of
disconnected information. They recommend that schools spend more time teaching
about concepts and explaining as they are meaningful to students. A fair example of this
is a class about religion or history. The instructor would use religious books and
historical documents to instill knowledge and make the students to be rational and
develop them to think critically. This philosophy in education makes the teacher the
main character on stage who will be the source of all knowledge and ideas which have
rooted from over the centuries. Perennialists believe that education should epitomize a
prepared effort to make these ideas available to students and to guide their thought
processes toward the understanding and appreciation of the great works; works of
literature written by history’s finest thinkers that transcend time and never become
outdated. Perennialists are primarily concerned with the importance of mastery of the
content and development of reasoning skills. The adage “the more things change, the
more they stay the same” summarizes the perennialists’ perspective on education.
Task 2. State at least three (3) strengths of perennialism. Explain why consider them
strengths (25pts)
1. Perennialists primarily concerned with the importance of mastery of the
content and development of reasoning skills. This means that students learn
factual information that were written on books and which are proven to be true
over the ages. I consider it a strength because of the rampancy of fake,
unreliable and unproven information that we can now gather through the internet.
The internet plays a big part of misinformation to students now and this is a sad
reality.
2. A perennialist classroom aims to be a closely organized and welldisciplined environment, which develops in students a lifelong quest for
the truth. I consider it as a strength since some students now don’t value good
manners and don’t possess characters of a well-disciplined students. The
struggle of teachers from having students who are very much entitled of their
right now days have affected their social and mental wellbeing’s which most of
the time also become a responsibility of a teacher. If only, they are well
mannered, then teachers and everyday class work would have run smoothly.
3. Believed that knowledge should be everlasting. Knowledge should be
certain, because when someone acquires knowledge it should be something
that last forever, something that will be beneficial to the person for his lifetime.
Task 3. State at least three (3) weaknesses of Perennialism. Explain why you
consider them weaknesses. (25 pts
1. Perennialist classrooms are also centered on teachers. I consider this as a
weakness since I believe that in learning it should be two-way, because not all
knowledge may come from 1 master. Some other information/ knowledge may
come from the students themselves. If what has been said is wrong, then
information’s are opted to be corrected.
2. The teachers are not concerned about the students' interests or
experiences. In classroom setting, students interest should also be considered
since they are the one learning, they are the one who would be taught, the one
who should absorb such knowledge and the one whose experience is valued.
The neglect of such sometimes bring boredom to the student as the sees the
environment not interesting.
3. The use tried and true teaching methods and techniques that are believed to
be most beneficial to disciplining students' minds. Perennialism philosophy of
education is a very conservative and inflexible. Students are taught to reason
through structured lessons and drills. Which sometimes doesn’t value the multiple
intelligences of our students. Neglect of which also means that the total
development of the child is hampered by this learning strategy.