An Outline of Comenius’ Method of Teaching
* If you are familiar with current homeschooling theories such as Unschooling and Charlotte Mason, you will recognize much of those theories in here!
Basic principles
- Follow nature
- Uniformity in all things
- Continuity sequence and serial order
- Practice expression and sense impression
- Popular and complete education. Pansophy. Encyclopedic training.
General method
- Learn to do by doing
- Present to as many senses as possible
- Things before words
- One thing at a time and in proper sequence
- Understanding before memory
- Present things before words
- Things of use around us the basis of instruction
- The whole and then its parts taught successively
- Present to as many senses as possible
- Give the causes of the thing
Arts
- Things to be done learned by doing them
- Examples forms norms to be presented
- Imitation at first to be as close to the model as possible. Later more freedom to be allowed.
- Errors to be corrected on the spot. Rules and directions should be given.
- Exercise and practice are to be continued till the habit of art has been obtained.
Language
- First the vernacular, then the neighboring tongues, then Latin.
- Language is learned rather by practice than by precept.
- Precept is to aid and strengthen practice.
- Uniformity of method is to be followed in all tongues.
- The first exercises in a new tongue should be about known subjects.
Morality
- All the virtues are to be implanted in youth.
- Virtues are to be learned by doing them.
- Bad companions are to be avoided.
- Example and precept as of parents teacher school fellows, etc.
- The means of discipline should be reproof and punishment.
Piety
- Begin in infancy.
- Devotion is to be expressed by the proper attitude.
- There should be practice in the doing of virtues.
- There should be meditation prayer self examination.
- The pagan authors should be used with caution.
Source: Outline History of Education By Felix Arnold
To learn more about the history of education, you can download this entire free public domain book here
More about Comenius from Wikipedia:
John Amos Comenius (Czech: Jan Amos Komenský; Slovak: Ján Amos Komenský; German: Johann Amos Comenius; Polish: Jan Amos Komeński; Hungarian: Comenius Ámos János; latinized: Iohannes Amos Comenius) (March 28, 1592 – November 15, 1670) was a Czech teacher, scientist, educator, and writer. He was a Unity of the Brethren/Moravian Protestant bishop, a religious refugee, and one of the earliest champions of universal education, a concept eventually set forth in his book Didactica Magna. Comenius became known as the teacher of nations. He is often considered the father of modern education.
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