The Paideia Proposal: An Educational Manifesto

In this book, Adler (of Encyclopedia Brittanica and the Great Book series fame) lays out his vision for a Liberal Arts basic schooling program. He argues that basic schooling should teach students how to learn for themselves through the study of a program of core courses and that the same course of study should be taken by all. Only in this way can we as individuals and as a free and democratic society have the means and the wisdom to manage our own destiny.Of particular benefit is his concept of the three different categories of education, that of content knowledge, intellectual skill, and enlarged understanding of ideas and values. Each one is essential for a complete education, and each one requires a different type of mode to instruct properly. One cannot teach intellectual skill in the same manner that one teaches content knowledge. This section has revolutionized and dramatically improved my ability to teach high school math and physics, and it is applicable to all disciplines.I buy these books 5-10 at a time and give them as gifts to fellow teachers. A good companion to this book is Robert Hutchins' The Great Conversation.

This book was mentioned in a Master level class, so I was curious. This thought process goes against the theory that students should be challenged according to their ability. Gifted students would not do well in this pedagogical atmosphere where every student is treated the same. It echos the "No Child Left Behind" belief, but then the if we hold all students to the same standards, by the same token, "no child gets ahead". Education should not be an assembly line of knowledge; we are not building a society of robots. Just saying...

This book was interesting. I liked and agreed with some parts. For example, the part which stated that both leaders and followers must become properly educated in order to re-organize the schools. Changing a school isn't easy. Right now, some schools mandate for all to wear face masks. Some schools say its okay or not for people to wear face masks. Ignorant people need more education.

Adler’s premise is that a modern society needs an educated population. Educational reform is basic but, it requires the undoing of decades of sameness. Well explained and thoughtful.

Dr. Adler writes as if his ideas are radical and extraordinary -- and maybe they were when his manifesto was first published. Now, however, most of the Paideia principles have been tried, adapted, and superceded in our schools. It's a good, quick read if you're interested in the history of education in the United States, but it's no longer as revolutionary as it wants to be.

Arrived very quickly! Completely satisfied!

Great read!

Great book, good condition and arrived on time for my class. Thank you for allowing me to review this purchase.