Robert Hutchins

Robert Maynard Hutchins (1899-1977) was the president then chancellor of the University of Chicago, and an influential educator who was known for his development of Perennialism, a philosophy in which students learn "life lessons" from reading great literature, or Great Books. Hutchins believed that students should discuss these books in class via the Socratic method. He also believed that extracurricular activities were a waste of valuable time, and disbanded the University of Chicago's football team, which had been a founding member of the Big Ten Conference. The team was later reinstated, but is not a "big league" school like it once was.