Academicism for Dummies

Academicism is a term that refers to a way of thinking or a style of doing things that emphasizes the importance of following rules and conventions, especially in the field of education. Imagine you are learning to play a sport, let's say basketball. When you start, you are taught the basic rules and techniques like how to dribble, shoot, and pass the ball. In a similar way, academicism focuses on following a set structure and established methods in our learning and thinking process.

Now, think of it like this: Imagine you have a piece of paper with a dotted line drawn on it. To trace that line and stay within the boundaries, you need to follow specific movements and use proper technique. In the same way, academicism encourages students to follow established methods, rules, and guidelines to ensure they stay within the boundaries of what is considered "proper" or "accepted."

In educational settings, academicism involves placing importance on textbooks, memorization, and the traditional teacher-student relationship. It often values conformity and tends to place a higher emphasis on following predetermined rules and standards rather than encouraging individual creativity and critical thinking.

Furthermore, academicism can also refer to an excessive focus on theoretical knowledge and abstract concepts, rather than practical application or real-life experiences. It could be compared to studying music theory extensively without ever picking up an instrument to play a song. While learning the theory is important, academicism reminds us that implementation and practicality are equally necessary.

So, to sum it up, academicism basically means following established rules and conventions, valuing textbooks and memorization, and focusing heavily on theoretical knowledge within the educational system. It's like tracing a dotted line, following set boundaries, and emphasizing the traditional way of doing things in order to meet the expectations set by the academic community.