Discussion Outline for Perennialism
- Are there some “truths” that can be gotten at only through “divine revelation” and not human reasoning? Can you site an example?
- Do you agree that thinking before acting, rather than acting impulsively, is more likely to lead to ethical personal conduct?
- Would you agree with Hutchins that human nature is the same today as it was 1000 years ago? If it is, does it follow that since man is basically the same, his education should remain basically the same?
- Does inter-scholastic athletic competition have a place in junior and senior high schools? If yes, what are the arguments for it? If no, do you agree with Hutchins’ reasoning?
- Do you agree with Hutchins that the following are basically not “intellectual” in nature and therefore should not be in the curriculum?
- physical educationd. drivers’ training
- art e. moral training
- music
Can you cite any examples of intellectual aspects to any of these disciplines?
- Should schools be responsible for social and recreational activities, or do these get in the way of the “real” purpose of school as Hutchins suggests?
- Is Hutchins right when he suggests that the school is diverted from its mainmission when teachers have to deal with:
- collecting money- milk, lunch, insurance, pictures, etc.
- maintaining birth and vaccination data
- checking for head lice
- supervising school bus loading
- counseling students on personal problems and career decisions
- promoting physical fitness
- teaching ethics and morals
- instilling patriotism and honesty
- maintaining discipline
- teaching free enterprise
- building self-worth and respect
- giving eye and ear exams
- etc.
- Are schools the “social institutions of the last resort”? In other words, when family, church, etc. fail to do their jobs, do the schools wind up doing some of their functions? If this is true, is this justifiable?
- Should every citizen in our society receive the same type of “liberal” education to prepare him for citizenship duties? Is this realistic for all students? Why or why not?
- What do you think about Hutchins’ Great books Curriculum? Would this provide you with a good college education? What are the strengths and weaknesses of such a curriculum? What would it prepare you to do after college? Would you spend $5000 per year for this type of education? Would you like to study this curriculum if you didn’t have to worry about working for a living?
- Can your power to reason be strengthened by studying how other people reason in their writings?
- Do you believe that you can strengthen your overall memory by learning “memory lines” from literature? Can you strengthen your willpower by forcing yourself to do a task that you don’t enjoy doing?
- Is it a good idea for a teacher to remain “aloof” from his students? Does this facilitate or hinder learning in the classroom? Does teacher-student familiarity breed contempt and disrespect? What do you think of Professor Kingsfield as a teacher?
- Why do you think the public more readily accepts a “star system” in athletics and the performing arts than they do in academics?
- Explain how one of the subjects favored in the curriculum by the perennialists might be able to strengthen our ability to reason logically.
- Would recitation and drill serve any useful purpose in the subject you are preparing to teach?
- Do you agree or disagree with the perennialists’ hard line view of discipline? Why?
- Have you ever memorized and said a catechism, for example in a parochial school or at your church? What purpose does it serve?
- Try to solve the pamphlet problem. (Hint: Write an equation where X= the sum of piles one, two and three.)
- Are the perennialists right in evaluating only the intellectual traits of students? Why or why not?
- Should teachers stick to their predetermined “standards” when giving out grades to students or is it more fair to adjust the grading standards to the type of students you happen to be teaching?
- Is it important for teachers to “certify” what a student knows or does not know about a subject to the outside world, for example- potential employers?