Essentialism and Perennialism are educational concepts applying to a society as a whole. They both believe that there are certain aspects of the culture that must be learned by all included in it. Each one wants to preserve the historical basis of the affected culture.

Perennialism was first noted in the 16th century. It was popularized in the early 19th century by the Transcendentalists and again in the 20th century by authors such as Aldous Huxley.

A prominent proponent of perennialism is Aldous Huxley. He believed in the existence of a universal truth that underlies all religions and philosophies, advocating for the idea of a perennial philosophy that transcends cultural and historical boundaries.

Similarities between essentialism and perennialism is that they deal with the student and teacher. The differences include the purpose of education, the place of students, the content of the school curriculum, and the role of teachers.