"Students who have participated in these seminars have told me, in the most poignant terms, that this was their first experience of being asked to think about ideas and issues." (Adler, 1983, How to Speak, How to Listen)

THE PAIDEIA PHILOSOPHY

The Paideia philosophy celebrates the fundamental notion that to be fully educated is a lifelong adventure that only begins with an individual's formal schooling. It is based on the assumption that all human beings are by definition activist learners, capable of a fully humanistic life defined by intellectual growth. Thus, Paideia schools should ultimately be judged by how well they prepare students for a full and active life of the heart and mind. Watch Engaging Students in Active Learning, an introductory video of Paideia in contemporary American schools.

In 1982, Paideia's original thinker, philosopher Mortimer Adler, joined with a diverse cadre of educators and intellectuals to form the Paideia Group. Its members charged themselves with the task of defining a list of "Paideia Principles" as a summary of ideas introduced by Adler in his seminal work on American education, The Paideia Proposal. These principles were intended to help shape future efforts to improve schools and classrooms.

As part of The Paideia Proposal, the Paideia Group outlined a comprehensive course of study that incorporates three complementary instructional techniques or columns. Known as the Three Columns of Instruction, the techniques are:

1. didactic instruction of factual information;
2. intellectual coaching of skills; and
3. seminar discussion of ideas, concepts, and values.

Schools across the country that have successfully implemented Paideia Philosophy into everyday operations can be characterized by a consistent set of factors. The Essential Elements of a Paideia School, developed by The National Paideia Center, summarizes factors consistently seen in effective Paideia Schools in the areas of teaching and learning, culture, leadership, community involvement, and scheduling. Futhermore, because Paideia involves educating the whole child, we are pleased to announce our partnership with The Association of Supervision and Curriculum Development's (ASCD) initative:  "The Whole Child: Healthy, Safe, Engaged, Supported, Challenged."