Paideia Problems and Possibilities Ch. 1, 2, & 3

In Chapter One, Dr. Adler begins Paideia Problems & Possibilities where he ended The Paideia Proposal. He is writing about the fact that people take issue with "the proposal." He goes on to write that, "Some think that is principles - the end or goals it sets up and the measures it recommends for achieving them - are unattainable, illusory. Others who regard the objectives as attainable, nonetheless reject them as fundamentally misguided. Others assent to the goals aimed at, but challenge the means recommended as not well devised or adequate for the purpose" (Adler, 1983)(p.1).

Most people, I would argue, would come to their own defense, if attacked as many times as Dr. Adler has been about his ideology proposed. However, this has not been the case with Dr. Adler. Instead, he says the book is not written to challenge the people who have problems with their (he and his group who wrote the book) proposal. He states that, "It would promote debate when it is action that is urgently called for" (Adler, 1983)(p.1). H mm, what if the educational systems that we have in place today, as well as the parents of the children in these educational systems today, were to hear, and listen, and act upon these words? I believe that we would see more changes, at a quicker rate, than we see at the protests, or "demonstrations," (to be politically correct) that they choose as their main source to handle the procedures today. 

In the second chapter, I agree wholeheartedly with the "Threefold Objectives of Schooling" that Dr. Adler lays out as preparation for students in school. These "Threefold Objectives of Schooling (in ascending order of importance) are:

1. Preparation for earning a living.
2. Preparation for the duties of citizenship in a democracy, in which the citizens are the ruling class and holders of public office.
3. Preparation for self-development, which cannot occur without continued learning & personal growth during maturity after all schooling, basic or advanced, has been completed" (Adler, 1983)(p.7).
   

I want to point out something that may or may not be noticeable to you, after reading that list over. Education comes after schooling in this list, because it is essentially "self-education" that is taking place. I agree with these objectives because of the fact that if the "order" of the "preparations" are not followed, then we are setting our children up for a disaster. Another reason that that I agree is because the third objective stresses the importance again of continual learning. We, as a nation, have pushed this emphasis to the side. Other things, such as "building an empire," "creating a dynasty," "becoming a NBA basketball player," etc. have taken the place of this emphasis and, when doing so, taken away the reality that only a very few number of people have the capability to accomplish those tasks mentioned.

Chapter Three of The Paideia Problems and Possibilities is a review of "The Paideia Principles," and the "general means" of these principles. However, I was able to pull out something different from this book, which was not in my reading of The Paideia Proposal. This was when Dr. Adler repeated the basic premises of the "3 Modes of Learning." These are that: "Mode 1 has to deal with... acquisition of knowledge; Mode 2 has to deal with ... development of intellectual skills; Mode 3 has to deal with... enhancement of understanding of basic ideas and values" (Adler, 1983)(p.16-17). However, the following part, which Dr. Adler added, is what helped make it clear. He wrote, "Mode #1 is knowing that or knowing what; Mode #2 is knowing how; and Mode #3 is knowing why and wherefore"(Adler, 1983)(p.16-17). In this simple terminology, Dr. Adler made it visible and comprehensible to most people. 


Dr. Adler went on to write more in this chapter about the "3 Modes of Teaching (Didactic, Coaching, and Socratic)," another review from The Paideia Proposal. Towards the closing pages of the chapter he makes a very important comment, regarding the three modes of learning and teaching. Dr. Adler writes, "With regard to the principal elements in the prescription - the three modes of learning and teaching - one important point must be repeated ... The three modes of learning and teaching must be related - more than that, integrated - at every stage of the educational process" (Adler, 1983)(p.21). Without this integration, I believe that schools are setting themselves up for failure, because there is no leadership, no teaching, and, most importantly, no learning occurring.