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The Paideia Propasal: an educational Manifesto by Motimer Adler, in my opinion, is a very well written book. It contained easy, well flowed text. It enlightened me in more ways than one. According to this writter this book sends out a message about how our schools are in dire need of reform, to say the least. It calls for reform for the future of our youth, our children and thus our society as a whole. The Paideia Proposal places in perspective how the youth of our country are in fact our salvation later. Whereby our economy and the workings of our democratic institutions "lies in our schools today (pg. 1)." The book points out how we might better our educational systems and provides additional reading which will allow our schools to place these programs in effect. It also takes into perspective some of the impediments and distinct disadvantages some of our school districts will have implementing these programs. It also sets forth the neglect of parents, teachers and schools of our youth. The Paideia Proposal is a cry for vital changes in our way or approach to basic schooling, as well as, to the preparation of teachers. Its goal is to turn our children today into knowledgeable, participating, competent citizens of our future. Motimer Adler is a great philosopher of education and through this book he has given us, the members of society, something to really think about. To say the least he is giveing us a real chance of future filled with knowledgeable, competent citizens of our future. Adler incoporates the works of John Dewey and Horace Mann among other works in his way of thinking all of whom compliments eachother. Adler's vision of education revolves around many points. Some of which are as follows: Democracy and education (pg. 4), education will lead to equality (pg. 5-6), all children are teachable (pg. 8), schooling is only a part of education (pg. 9-), Learning is only as beneficial as a teacher makes it (part 3), and to equip our children to be able to earn good livings and to enable them to lead good human lives (pg. 73). Democracy and Education In the Book Adler points out a book written by John Dewey "Democracy and Education" written in 1916. He explains that athough this book was written so long ago it wasn't until now, this century, that democracy has become an issue regardless of "sex, race or ethnic origin (pg. 3)." Adler explains that Dewey understood this early in this century and found that both words Democracy and Education shed light on each other. The message by Dewey through his book was "that a democratic society must provide equal educational opportunity not only by giving to all its children the same quantity of public education--the same number of years in school -- but also by making sure to give all of them, all with no exceptions, the same quality of education (pg.
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