Reforming Education: The Opening of the American Mind

Schaeffer in his book 'He is There and He is Not Silence' book talks about these main ideas 1. The Metaphysical Necessity 2. Moral Necessity 3. Epistemological Necessity : Problem 3. Epistemological Necessity : Answer Now, if you read ONLY one essay of Adler's called 'Tradition or Progress' from the book 'Reformation Education', you will that Adler found the same problems. The main problems according to him is 'The nature of knowledge' and 'the nature of man'. He talks about anti-ontological nature of Science and how it strips ontology (metaphysical nature) and puts nothing in its place. This confirms Schaeffer's ideas and at the same time strenghes Francis Schaeffer's main points and problems in the history. Adler wrote his particular essay in 1941 yet Schaeffer started his L'abri mission around 1950s. The book is very valuable and should be read by pastors, apologists, missionaries, lay people who are in Christian ministries as well as educators. It would be very sad to see only educators' interest of this book. This evaluates the culture and seeks to bring foundational solution yet tells all of this in honesty, hope. Isn't the culture problem? Whose who controls the culture controls the country, don't you think?

If ever I find a school system that uses these principles of education, I want to work there IMMEDIATELY!

Editor Geraldine Van Doren has collected 25 essays on educational reform by Dr. Adler. Each essay is masterfully written and all are united by a common theme calling for the revitalization of education in our schools. Dr. Adler's program consists of using the Great Books as a means to bring back the Liberal Arts. He is a generalist who disclaims specialization in schools (students may specialize as they enter the work force or advanced degrees), discredits textbooks, elective courses, and narrow, didactic teaching. He supports the Humanities, calling for more Socratic-style teaching. This is must reading for educators, administrators, parents, and all learners.

This excellent work by Dr. Adler presents an in depth analysis of problems and solutions for the American educational system. Dr. Adler presents his readers with revolutionary and practical educational proposals supported by long standing philosophical principles.Many educational scholars may disagree with some of Dr. Adler's ideas. However, most scholars would be hard pressed to dispute the proposition that Dr. Adler's proposals provoke considerable thought in the common quest to improve America's educational structure.

No one has spoken with as clear and sound a voice about the problems facing 20th century education as has Mortimer J. Adler. As an elected member of a local board of education in Colorado, I have turned again and again to this book as a source of wisdom and direction. No other book talks about reform with such a sane and logical approach. Stripped of all the polemics and dogma, education reform can be seen as a problem that does not require blame or self-righteousness. It is, as you will learn from this book, a profoundly difficult problem with which we have struggled for the last century without success--not because we haven't tried, but because the demands of 20th century democracy on education are a tall order.I am indebted to Dr. Adler for the work he has done in education.