2 Philosophical Influences

Historical Influences 1843 – 1827

Martin Luther (1483-1546)^[1]

• Believed primary role of education is to teach children to read
• Family plays the most important role in educating children
• Contributed to ideal that all children need to be educated

John Amos Comenius (1592-1670)^[2]

• Wrote the first picture book for children called Orbis Pictus – an alphabet book based on the study of nature and the senses
• Encouraged parents to let children play with other children of the same age
• Reflected the growing social reform that would educate  the poor as well as the rich

John Locke (1632-1714)^[3]

• Proposed idea called tabula rasa (clean slate)
• Believed that the child was born neutral rather than good or evil
• Suggested that instruction should be pleasant with play activities as well as drills

Jean Jacques Rouseau (1712-1778)^[4]

• Wrote a book called Emile based on a hypothetical child – these ideas were brought forward in this book:
  • Education should be more than vocational
  • Children construct their own knowledge
  • Children’s perspectives differ from adults
  • Children’s cognitive development processes through distinct stages and instructions should coincide with those stages

Johann Heinrich Pestalozzi (1746-1827)^[5]

• Believed that children should be cared for as well as educated
• Integrated curriculum that develops the whole child
  • Defined the whole child as the hand, the head, and the heart
• Thought children should be taught in group settings
• Encourage parent education primarily for the mother

Attribution