17th century, The Great Teaching Theory written by Czech educator J.A. Comenius (1592- 1670) was the beginning of the formation of an independent discipline of pedagogy. The subtitle is "The Universal Art of Teaching Everyone Everything", which consists of 33 chapters.
Comenius 1592 was born in a miller's family in Czech Republic. His parents are members of the devout Protestant "Czech Brotherhood". Comenius was influenced by his family and accepted Protestant ideas since childhood, which is also clearly reflected in his works. 12 years old, both parents died. 16 years old, entered the Latin school with the support of the Brotherhood. After graduating from high school, he entered the Department of Theology at the University of Helborne, Germany, and then transferred to the University of Heidelberg for lectures. 16 14 returned to the motherland.
He devoted his life to education, engaged in school education reform and educational science research. He once presided over three Latin schools run by the Brotherhood, and was invited to study and teach in London, England. He compiled a set of Latin teaching materials and teaching methods for the Swedish government and helped Hungary to carry out educational reform. In the long-term teaching practice, he has accumulated rich teaching experience. At the same time, he deeply studied the educational theories of humanistic thinkers in ancient Greece, Rome and Renaissance, discussed the research achievements of contemporary advanced educators, and combined with his own experience, wrote a large number of educational theory works and textbooks. From 65438 to 0657, he collected and published The Complete Works of Education in Amsterdam.
Great teaching theory focuses on the problem of teaching theory. Comenius clearly expounded the most basic purpose of great teaching theory in Greetings to Readers. He said that teaching theory is the art of teaching, and "great teaching theory" is the universal art of "teaching everything to all people", and it is the art of "teaching with certainty", "teaching with fun" and "teaching with thoroughness". The book clearly puts forward and demonstrates a series of teaching principles and rules in detail, puts forward and discusses various teaching methods (including general teaching methods and subject-specific teaching methods), draws up the curriculum of schools at all levels, establishes the basic organizational form of school teaching, formulates the principle requirements for compiling teaching materials, and even makes specific provisions on how teachers can have a good class. The Great Teaching Theory also discusses moral education, religious education, art education and physical education.
Comenius enthusiastically praised the education industry as the proudest industry in the world. "Where can our contribution to the country be better and greater than teaching and educating people?" He called on every educator to devote himself enthusiastically to this cause. "Ah, young educator, your job is to plant and irrigate the delicate buds in the kingdom of heaven. You should also earnestly pray that these things that help you work can be completed as soon as possible and used every day. Because since you are called' can plant the sky and lay the foundation', what can make you happier than trying to gain as much as possible? Therefore, you should turn your sacred career and trust your children to your parents into a flame in your heart, so that you and those affected by you will not stop until your motherland is fully illuminated by this enthusiastic torch. "
At the same time, educators themselves should constantly learn and enrich themselves, so as to better educate others. "Don't think that knowledge is enough for you. You should try your best to improve other people's teaching. "
He advocates that teachers should actively stimulate children's desire to learn, and use gentle and persuasive methods to attract children with kind sentiments and words, instead of using rude methods to alienate students from teachers. Harmonious teacher-student relationship is of great help to improve teaching quality. If teachers often praise students who study hard, give children their favorite apples, nuts and sugar. If teachers show them pictures of what they should learn, or explain to them things like optical or geometric instruments and celestial instruments that can arouse their envy, and treat students well in other ways, teachers will easily gain students' goodwill, and students would rather go to school than stay at home.
In particular, he advocated that all young people, regardless of gender, rank and wealth, should go to school for education.
Because all people are born with equal rights, they should be "people" and rational people. It is not only the master of other creatures, but also faithfully reflects the image of the creator. All people should be properly nourished by wisdom, virtue and piety so that they can effectively engage in their present life and prepare for their future life. Education is the only way for people to have a rational spirit. If educators cultivate some people with wisdom and exclude others, it is selfish and unfair.
Secondly, although some people seem to be born dull and clumsy, it does not mean that they have no right to education. On the contrary, people with this intelligence need universal education. The more dull and weak people are, the more educators should help them get rid of rough dullness and clumsiness. People who are so retarded that they can't be educated don't exist in the world. It's like he is a sieve that can't hold the water of wisdom. Although he can't keep a few drops of water, he will become cleaner and cleaner with the nourishment of education. Comenius gave many examples to illustrate this problem. Some people are strong when they are young and sick when they are old. Others were short and sick when they were young, but they grew up to be big and strong. So is intelligence. Some people have been sensible for a long time, but that's what happens when they grow up. Some people are born stupid, but later they become sensitive and smart. Therefore, everyone always has his own advantages to be praised, and we can't jump to conclusions too early. The same is true in the fields of reading and writing.
Comenius criticized and corrected the fallacy that women could not pursue knowledge. He thinks such a statement is totally unreasonable. He believes that women are also created by God in his own image, and they also occupy the same important position as men in the world of God's kindness and equality. They are born with the same keen thinking and thirst for knowledge, sometimes even stronger than men.
Although the Great Teaching Theory has inevitable historical limitations, it extensively and deeply discusses various problems in education, summarizes the history and teaching experience at that time, and puts forward many valuable opinions. It is the earliest systematic pedagogy work in modern western countries, which laid the foundation for the establishment of modern pedagogy.