Johann Heinrich Pestalozzi

University Degree Education and Teaching

Pestalozzi

Katie Raffensperger

State University of New York College at Oneonta

Johann Heinrich Pestalozzi

“It is life that educates”

By: Johann Pestalozzi

Throughout centuries many teachers have had different styles of teaching. Although some children may get more out of the “teach by the textbook” method, many children enjoy variety and excitement when learning. Variety, excitement, and learning are what Johann Heinrich Pestalozzi had in mind for the children of his time period. Pestalozzi became the “founder of Modern Educational Methods” (The Development of Education) during the mid 18th to early 19th century and had an astonishing effect upon the children’s learning environment.

His mind began stirring up creative lesson plans at a very young age. Pestalozzi’s mother had inspired him because she was one who taught her children through play and through family activities. Pestalozzi stated that his mother was a “loving teacher who trained childish fingers and eyes, and taught by example and precept both virtue and good manners” (The Development of Education, 3). Pestalozzi may even be considered a prodigy. At about fifteen he entered a college, Neuhof, which prepared their students for their professions. It is here where he encountered some great professors, but none whom inspired and created enjoyment throughout the classroom. At this school, Pestalozzi also discovered another famous philosopher, Rousseau. Pestalozzi took Rousseau’s ideas and explored how they might be developed and practiced in his time.

Pestalozzi was a very intelligent man and developed a concept called Anschauug. This is a simple way of stating that “learning is based on observation and experience and hence occurs naturally when students have direct contact with the material being studied” (Schultz, Lucille M, 1995, 28). Instead of teaching through the textbook, Pestalozzi often took his students on field trips to the country and they used real, hard evidence/objects instead of pictures and words in the classroom. The children would then come up with words such as hard, smooth, brittle, opaque, rough, etc. to describe the objects. Although a big ...

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Pestalozzi learned from the children as well. He learned that the voice and attitude of the teacher affects the response of the students. A child learns through hands on activities, by imitating, drawing, collecting, and by observing and listening. If he was excited about teaching the curriculum then the students would be eager to learn. A positive learning environment, which is fun to participate in, and if the teacher creates a safe haven for the children then it is a guarantee for achievement.

Pestalozzi started a new and impressive trend. In today’s century teachers use “hands on” activities throughout the majority of the year. Many students do not learn well through lecture, but need the extra effort put in by teachers to be successful. Throughout the school year many teachers include fieldtrips into the lesson plans. Many children may go to the zoo to hear the sounds the animals make, see the food they eat, feel their skin/fur, and describe the environment they live in. Another field trip could be to a park to observe the different types of stone, learn about grass, trees and many different types of materials. Teachers try to bring as much into the classroom as possible as well. Science projects and experiments require the children to participate in their learning, and follow step by step instructions to create a final project. Through this the children can touch, smell, see, listen, and even sometimes taste.

Pestalozzi is a remarkable philosopher. Through his knowledge and experience he was able to come up with a method of teaching that can be used throughout the world. Anschauug is such a simple concept, and yet no one ever thought to put that concept down on paper. Even though reading about Pestalozzi is not required for teachers, he would be very beneficial for everyone and should be recognized more for his work.

References:

1.) Development of Education. (2005). “The Life and Work of Johann Heinrich Pestalozzi (1746-1827) A Founder of Modern Educational Methods”.

2.) Edgerton, Stephenie G. (1974). “Independence through Sharing”: The Vocational Planning of Heinrich Pestalozzi. Renowned Swiss Educator. History of Education Quartly, Vol.14, No. 3, 403-406.

3.) Schultz, Lucille M. (1995). “Pestalozzi’s Mark on Nineteenth-Century Composition Instruction: Ideas Not in Words, but in Things”. Rhetoric Review, Vol. 14, No.1, 23-43

4.) Smith, Mark K. (1997). “Johann Heinrich Pestalozzi”. Infed encyclopedia, archives, explore. www.infed.org