Philosophic Inventory

Cheryl Salzano
Intro to Elementary Education
CSN
EDU 201-1003
2/15/2019
 Philosophy Chart
SCORE

PHILOSOPHY SCORE
Essentialism 19
Behaviorism 14
Progressivism 10 Essentialism
Existentialism 10 Behaviorism
Perennialism 22
Progressivism
Recsonstructionism 7
82 Existentialism
Perennialism
Recsonstructionism
• Perennialism looks to unchanging truths, believing that over the
centuries the human nature and the natural world have change very
little. It is believed that perennial philosophy dates back to Renaissance
period.
• Perennialisms looks to the basics of human nature can solve even the
most modern problems. Perennialists think that students can learn with
hard work and effort. Perennialist started with finding the underlining
truths that are common in religions including the elements of mystic that
can be associated with them. Where schools do not use religion as the
basis of education, perennialism education does look to find the
unchanging truths today, yesterday and thousands of years ago.
• Perennialists feel that education should focus its ideas on rationality
because a mind is intellectual. Student’s minds need to be stimulated in
thinking ideas that thoughtfully and significantly.
• The curriculums are demanding and challenging encouraging students to
develop their skills in independent and critical thinkers.
• Searching for the truth will always be true it is universal it is timeless.
 What I learned about myself
I was surprised that perennialism philosophy was my strongest philosophy. I would
have thought that my strongest philosophy would have been essentialism. As I read
more about the history of perennialism I could see how that would be my strong point.
The first perennialist looked to find the basis in religion. Since my religious beliefs are
my basis for learning I can see how I would be strongest in perennialism philosophy. I
agree that students need to have basic knowledge in educational, developing a
foundation of truths, before they can develop their own intellectual skills. I also belief
that students need to work hard using the skills they learn to solve problems.
I was not at all surprised that social reconstructionism was my weakest point. Where
there are some good ideas in this philosophy I feel it is the weakest philosophy of all of
them. Social reform is a good idea but I feel that without learning from the past and
having a core believe system you can not change society for the better. I feel that
perennialism philosophies and social reconstructionism are on opposite sides of the
spectrum.
I feel that Clark County schools are becoming more reconstructionism and less
perennialism. I feel that it may make teaching harder for me at times. But I feel that
perennialism philosophy would benefit the students more because they will become
better independent thinkers with a strong foundation of truths.