KINAADMANAnInterdisciplinaryResearchJournal HolyNameUniversity,TagbilaranCity,Bohol

Vol.18,No.2October2007

PHILOSOPHYOFEDUCATIONOFJOHNAMOSCOMENIUS JeramiA.Clemen HolyNameUniversity TagbilaranCity Introduction HaveyoueverheardofJohnAmosComenius,orJanAmosKomensky?Donot betoooverwhelmedwithgriefifyouhavenot.Inourday,mostoftheworldhasnot heard of him. Regardless of your denominational distinction, Comenius is someone Christians,mostspecificallyeducatorsandstudentsshouldbecomefamiliarwith. He wroteover154booksinhislifetime,evenafterallhisoriginalmanuscriptswereburned duringarebellioninHolland. Hewasanamazingandprolificeducator,andhasbeen stampedTheFatherofModernEducationandTeacherofNations. HisLife Comencius was born March 28, 1592, and was orphaned early, because his parentsdiedofaplaguein1604.EducatedattheuniversitiesofHerbornandHeidelberg, Comenciusbeganworkingasapastorandparochialschoolprincipalin1618,theyearthe ThirtyYearswarbegan.AfterthedefeatoftheProtestantarmiesintheBattleofWhite MountainoneofthemostdisastrouseventsinCzechhistoryhebarelyescapedwith hiswifewhiletheenemysoldiersburneddownhishouse.Later,hisyoungwifeandtwo smallchildrendiedofplague.Forsevenyearshelivedthelifeofafugitiveinhistown land,hidingindesertedhuts,incaves,eveninhollowtrees.Earlyin1628,hejoinedone ofthesmallgroupsofProtestantswhofledtheirnativeMoraviatoawaitbettertimesin neighboringPoland.Heneversawhishomelandagain. For42yearsofhislongandsorrowfullifehehadroamedthecountriesofEurope asahomelessrefugee. Hewasalwayspoor. Hislifewascharacterizedbyconstant moving,despair,andturmoil(thiswaspartofthereasonwhyhissecondwifebecame ill).Hissecondwifediedtoo,leavinghimwithfourchildrentocarefor.However,he composedmanyworksoneducationandbecamefamousallthroughoutEuropethrough hiswritings.Hepublishedsomeofthefirstpicturebooksforchildren,aswellaswritea workaroundpansophicprinciplesthatgainedhimworldfame. Whatdoespansophicactuallyreferto?Comenciusbelievedtherewasonlyone truth. The light of reason must submit in obedience to the will of God. This is Comenciusfundamental,pedagogicalandpansophicpriciple.

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InEngland,theEnglishunknowntohim,publishedhisnotesonthetopic,and then invitedhimtocometoEngland towork thereinopening anewschool. Upon arriving, unfortunately, civil war broke out and stopped the possibility of a school. Comencius then traveled to Sweden, though invited by both France and Holland to continuehiswork.HehadfaithintheSwedishchancellorOxenstierna,toimplorehimto helptheBohemianpeoplewhenthetreatyofpeacewouldcalmthetumultuousstormsof thecountrysaffairs.ThetreatyofWestphaliawaspivotalinceasingtheThirtyYears WarbutitwasmoreofahelptotheLutheransandtheCalvinistsratherthansomeofthe small groups. The Brethren in Bohemian whom he longed to care for were still oppressed.Oxenstiernahadforgottenhim.ThepoliticalalliesoftheCzechnationeither died orwere killed inthewar. The beloved fatherland layintotal desolation. The scattered, impoverished church whose bishop he had become was in danger of disintegratingafteryearsofexile.ThepolishcityofLezno,hishomeforanumberof years, was burned tothe ground bytheenemy. His treasured library and numerous manuscriptssomeofthemwereresultsofdecadesofworkweretotallydestroyedby fire,leavingComencius,anoldmanof64,withvirtuallynothingbuttheclothesonhis back. Homelessandpenniless,hemadeittoAmsterdam,Holand,wherefriendstook himinandcaredforhimuntilhisdeathin1670. HisAchievements Comencius contributions to the educational scene are immeasurable in many ways. He pioneered modern educational methods. He wrote several textbooks on Education. These were so original that they won him the name Father of Modern Education.Andbecauseofhiseffortsonbehalfofuniversaleducation,heearnedthe titleofTeacherofNations. HisWorksandContributions
Visionaryandinnovator

Hethinksinbiggerpicturesandhebelievedthatmuchofliveslearningshouldbe woven together,aconcept hecalledVIALUCIS(WayofLight),auniversal planof educationandpeace.

Philosopher

HewasabletodevelopaphilosophycalledPansophismandRealism

Bishop

He was a bishop of the Unitas Fratrum (The Unity of Brethren), commonly knownasMoravianChurchinMoravia,whichattainedgreat theological,literaryand

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culturalachievementsimmediatelyprecedingtheThirtyYearsWar.Beingabishop,his religiousbeliefswerealsoincorporatedintohisteachings.
Writer

Hepublished154books,mostdealingwitheducationalPhilosophyandTheology.
Educator/Teacher/Rector

He was once an educator/teacher during his times in Poland, Sweden, England,andHolland.Headvocatedtheuseofvisualaidsinclassroomteaching.Like moderneducators,heusedpictures,maps,charts,andothervisualaids.Heevenbrought drama into the classroom. He believed learning should be interesting, dramatic, and stimulating.
Realist

Hewasarealistwhostatesthatknowledgecomesprimarilythroughthesenses. Hebelievedthateducationwasfoundedonthetrainingofsenseperceptionratherthanon purememoryactivities. Heintroducedtheinductivemethodoflearningwhereintheexamplesaregiven firstbeforetheconcept.Beingarealist,hisideasaboutnaturesetthetoneofhisworks.

Leader

HewasaleaderofthepersecutedProtestantUnityofCzech. HisContributions 1. ORBISSENSUALISMPICTUS(1638)TheVisibleWorldinPictures ItisabookforlearningLatinwhichisbelievedtobethefirstillustratedtextbook ofJanuaLinguariumReserata.Itisthefirsteverchildrenspicturebook.Hefeltitwas necessary forchildrentoseewhat theworldlooks likewiththehelpofpictures. It became best sellers and was translated in the year 1659 into every major European language,andwasusedbybeginninglearnersforover200years. 2. JANUALINGUARIUMRESERATA(1631)TheGateofTonguesUnlocked ThisbookisanintroductiontoLatingrammar,andcontainstheoutlineofhis method of teaching languages through the vernacular and of relating Latin to the vernacularthroughparallelpassagesandillustrations. 3. DIDACTICAMAGNA(16281632)TheGreatDidactic

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ThemostimportantworkofComencius. Thisbookexploredhowpeoplelearn andhowtheyshouldbetaughtfrominfancythroughtheuniversityandbeyond. This bookalsodescribedaverydifferenteducationalsystem.Hebelievedthatschoolsshould beorganizedinstagesfromeasytodifficult. Comenciusbelievedthathumanbeings werebornwithanatural craving forknowledgeandthatschoolsbeatitoutofthem. Comenciusaddressedtopicssuchas: a. EducationforEveryone b. Studentsnaturaltendencytolearn c. Learningbyeachstages d. CliffNotes e. FinalcialAid f. CareerPreparation g. Extracurricularactivities h. LifelongLearning 4. Realism Realismiseducationinwhichnaturalphenomenaandsocialinstitutionsrather thanlanguageandliterature,isthechiefsubjectofthestudy.Itisalsoconsideredasan educational philosophy, which advocates that education should beconcerned with the realitiesoflifeandshouldprepareapersonforhis/herdutiesinlife.Comenciushimself isarealist,asenserealistwhostatesthatknowledgecomesprimarilythroughthesenses. Educationwasfoundedonthetrainingofsenseperceptionratherthanonpurememory activities.Senserealismcondemnstheuseofexcessiveandharshdisciplineinlearning, RealistslikeComeniusintroducetheinductivemethodoflearningorteaching. 5. Pansophism Fromthepersecutionsandhardshipshesufferedinhislife,hecametodevelopa philosophy, called Pansophism. This philosophy emphasized political unity, religious reconciliation, and cooperation in education. The philosophy of pansophism related educationtoeverydaylifeandcalledforasystematicrelationshiptobedevelopedforall knowledge.Headvocatedteachinginthecommonvernacularlanguageofstudentsrather than in Latin, and the establishment of the universal system of education with opportunitiesthatincludedwomenandpeopleofallnations. Pansophism which means all knowledge, attempted toincorporate theology, philosophy and education into one. Spiritual, philosophical and scientific learning is integrated. Hebelieved that learning spiritual andemotional growths were all woven together.

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The philosophy of pansophism presented the goal of education as the developmentofuniversalknowledgeamongallpeople,includingwomenandchildren, andallnations.Comeniusenvisagededucatedpeopleasthosewhosoughtknowledge fromallsourcesinordertobecomemorelikeGodinwhoseimagetheyweremade omniscientanduniversallycompassionate. Pansophismcontainedastrongargumentforinternationaleducation.Hebelieved thatallknowledgecomesfromGodandthathumanbeingscancometoknoweachother andultimatelyGod,throughtheuniversalknowledge.Hebelievedthatthereligiousand nationalhostilitiesthatcausedsuchviolencetohispeople,theBrethren,andtheother peopleofEuropewerecausedbyignorance.Aproducteithernotknowingorofbeing falselyindoctrinated,ignoranceledtobigotry,discrimination,andintolerancetheroot causes of war and bloodshed. Complete knowledge, such as that which Comenius believedpossible,woulddispelignorance,bringpeopleclosertoeachother,causethem torespectultimatelyandbringthemtoknowGod. BasicPansophicPricipleofComenius 1. Anabsolutelynewvisionofthewhole,oftheentireworldisrequired. 2. Apictureoftheworldshouldbeviewedasunity,initsinherentorganizationand reality. 3. It will result in the Universalis Sapientia or universal knowledge that is interconnectedbyaunityofitslawsactingthroughoutalldisciplinesdeductible fromeveryoneofthem. 4. UniversalKnowledgewillmakewhatispossibletoclarifyinfutureindividual and opposed truths, and simultaneously, unite all views within a common objective. 5. Pansophiawillextendallovertheworld,openingboundlessopportunitiesfor cognitionandperfection. 6. Whentheirrealityisunderstoodasauniquelivingorganism,allitscomponents revealtheirtruemeaningandrealityitselfrevealsitslawstopeople,theywill cometouniversalharmony. 7. Manshouldapprehendallthatandcreateharmonyinhim. 8. Manwillacquireauniversalkeyandguidelinetofurthercognitionand discoveries. 9.Pansophiaisatruevisionandunderstandingoftheworld,itshouldbecome accessibledoorforallpeopleoftheearthintheirnativelanguages. 10.Ifmanlivesintruthandperformshispartintheuniversalharmony,thenall peoplewouldcometoaconcord,topeace. ComeniusViewsofEducation

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ForComenius,theultimatepurposeofhumanlifeistobecomeunitedwithGod andtoobtaineternalblissinlifeafterdeath,withlifehereonEarthbeingthepreparation forlifeafterdeath.Forthispurpose,everyoneshouldknowallthings,becomeaperson whocancontrolthingsandhimself,andbecomeliketheimageofGod. He advocated necessity of three kinds of education; intellectual, moral, and religiouseducation.ToteachallthingstoallmenwasthethemeofComeniustheory ofeducation,whichwas calledPANSAPHIA. Comenius consideredthatthetalent to realize the goals of education is naturally inherent in people, and it is the role of educationtobringoutthisnaturalgift,thatisnature. Comenius said that fundamentally, parents are responsible for their childrens education,butshouldtheybecomeunabletodoit,schoolsreplacethem.Tohim,the image of the ideal person was that of a pansophist, a person who has learned all knowledgeconcerningGod,nature,andhumanbeings. Comeniusbelievedinthecreationofanewworldwidesocialorderthatwould containpeacemakingandpeacekeepinginstitutions.Tocreatetheculturalcontextfor hisnewsocialorder,theleadersofthechurchandthestateneededtotransformschools intoagenciesofhumanenlightenmentthatwouldopenmindsandheartsratherthanclose them through indoctrination. Comenius argued that teachers should respect childrens humandignityratherthancoercethemphysicallyorpsychologically.Teachersshouldbe kindertothechidreninsteadofbeingharsh.Healsoarguedthatteachersshoulddevelop instructional methods by which children could actively use their sense of learning. Schools thatweretransformedintoplaces ofenlightenedandhumanelearningwould cultivateanecumenicalvisionofthepeaceablekingdomwhereallcouldliveinmutual respect. ComeniussawchildrenthroughChristseyes,whicharepreciousgiftsfromGod tobecherishedratherthanannoyancestobesuppressed.Childrenwillbethejointheirs ofChristjustasmuchastheirChristianparentsare.SomedaytheywillruletheKingdom ofGodandjudgetheverydevils.Therefore,childrenaretobetreatedasiftheyaremore preciousthangold.Theyshouldbeshoweredwithlove.Materialshouldbeadaptedto theirabilitytolearn.Sinceacombinationofwordsandpicturesismorepowerfulthan eitheralone,thetwoshouldbeunitedinchildrenstexts.Curriculashouldmovefrom simpletomorecomplexwithrepetitionandreviewsothatthelearnerwillgainmastery. Nevershouldchildrenbepunishedforfailingbutratherbehelpedandencouraged.The subjects taught should have practical use. Where possible, demonstration and direct observationshouldbethenorm.

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AccordingtoComenius,thereshouldbefourgrades inaneducational system whichisequivalenttopreschool,gradeschool,highschoolandcollege.Hehopesthat througheducation,mankindmightbechangedforthebetter. PrinciplesofTeachingIntroducedbyComenius 1. Olderchildrenshouldstaylongerinschool,whileyoungeronesstayinschool onlyforashortperiodoftime. 2. Allclassesofthesamelevelshouldhavethesametextbooks,teachers,and testsorexamination. 3. Morninghoursshouldbedevotedforintellectualsubjects,whiletheafternoon hoursshouldbespentonsubjectsthatpromotephysicalandaesthetic development. 4. Allsubjectsshouldbethoroughlymastered. 5. Educationshouldbeinaccordancewiththechildsnaturalinterest. 6. Thelevelofteachingshouldbesuitedtothechildsunderstanding. 7. Effectivelearningisdonethroughtheuseofvernacular.

Bibliography 1. Comenius,JohnAmosMicrosoftEncartaEncyclopedia.19931996Microsoft Corporation. 2. KytkasPicks:JohnAmosComenius:FatherofModernEducation 3. Gutek,GeraldL.ComeniusandPansophismdefininginternationaleducation 4. http://www.comeniusgroup.com/comenius.htm 5. GroilerEncyclopedia 6. TheColumbiaElectronicEncyclopedia,6thEditionCopyright2006,Columbia UniversityPress