This was a required reading during graduate school. And why am I writing about this? Because I happened to see my copy and decided to browse the book. PAIDEIA is from the Greek pais, paidos meaning the upbringing of a child (in relation to pedagogy and pediatrics). The book also further explains (this is on the cover page) that in the extended sense, it is the equivalent of the Latin humanitas signifying the general learning that should be the possession of all human beings.
The Paideia Porposal is an educational manifesto written by Mortimer Adler and published in 1982. This book has articles about educational reforms in American schools. Further reading would make one feel that this just not apply to American schools. The ideas transcend everywhere, where learning is valued. I say learning, not schooling.
Let me quote some of the lines that were written in the book which I have underlined a few years ago:
- The schooling of a people does not complete their education.
- Education is a lifelong process of which schooling is only a small but necessary part.
- Learning never reaches a terminal point.
- The ultimate goal of the educational process is to help human beings become educated persons and schooling is just a preparatory stage.
- Basic schooling means to prepare people for the continuation of learning in adult life, during their working years and beyond.
- How? By imparting the skills of learning and giving them the stimulation that will motivate them to keep their minds actively engaged in learning.
To read more about these educational reforms, click here. I find it amusing that this link comes from ClassicalHomeschooling.com but then again, as a homeschooling mom, I know I shouldn’t be surprised since my approach to the early years of educating my children is quite unorthodox compared to the norm here in the Philippines. Do click the link up there, or this one, to read about the ideas behind this book that my professor was adamant we read. Now, I understand why.
Click here to read what I have written for a formula to succeed in life.
Click here for some thoughts about preschool learning.
This entry was posted on Thursday, June 5th, 2008 at 8:15 pm and is filed under Being a (Special Ed) Teacher, Challenge Yourself, Lessons in Life, Teaching Techniques. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.