The Paideia Proposal

The Paideia Proposal, developed by educator Mortimer Adler, advocates a comprehensive approach to education emphasizing critical thinking, active learning, and a well-rounded curriculum. It promotes classroom discussions, primary texts, and Socratic dialogue to develop deep understanding and reasoning skills. The goal is to prepare students not just with knowledge, but with the ability to think independently and engage thoughtfully in society. The proposal encourages schools to focus on developing lifelong learners capable of critical analysis rather than solely rote memorization or narrow specialization.