John+Comenius

Who: John Amos Comenius

> [|http://www.hnu.edu.ph/main/publication/kinaadman/2181007/218100719.pdf]
 * **Born on March 28th, 1592**
 * **Died on November 15th, 1670**
 * **Comenius was a Czech Bishop-realist-teacher-scientist-writer-education reformer**
 * **He tried to change the way children were taught**
 * **Comenius was asked to become the president of Harvard College in 1654, but turned down the offer**
 * **A priest of the Bohemian Unity of Brethren (a German Baptist sect)**
 * **In 1614 he taught in schools of Brethren** []


 * Comenius's Work****s:**
 * **He published 154 books during his lifetime**
 * **"Janua Linguarum Reserata" (The Gate of Languages Unlocked) was published in 1631, this book taught Latin in the students' own language**
 * **  "He published the first children's picture book called Orbis Pictus (The World Illustrated) in 1658" These books were translated into every major European language . ** [|**http://www.froebelweb.org/web7002.html**]

**-** **John Comenius was a Bishop and a man faith which is seen strongly in his theories and beliefs. - His view of life was ultimately to become one with God, and education would accomplish that goal. - He felt that everyone should be able to learn all there is to know in life. God knows all so by striving to know everything people would become like the image of God.
 * Theories and Beliefs:**

"He worked for a universal system of education offering equal opportunities to women" "He believed that languages were to be learned by the conversational method" "Comenius related education to everyday life by emphasizing contact with objects in the environment." He believed in learning through the senses instead of pure memorization of knowledge.**
 * (** [|**http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/John_Amos_Comenius.aspx**]**)**


 * In his teaching, Comenius made use of visual aids such as pictures, maps, charts, etc... He even implemented drama into teaching because he felt learning should be interesting, dramatic, and stimulating to students.

- The following is an exerpt from Comenius' book, Orbis Pictus, featuring a picture a subject on the far left, in the middle the English translation of both the subject's name and the sound it makes, and on the right the pronounciation of the noise the subject makes: **


 * John Comenius created philosophies of Pansophism and Realism**.

- **His philosophy of realism is education that dealt with the realities of life and prepare students for what they will face. It also came back to the fact that knowledge should be learned through the senses. - Comenius's philosophy on "Pansophism" is the belief of universal knowledge. It was his goal for all people, women and children, open to education. This theory promoted the idea of international education.**

-He wanted to turn schools into more enlightened and humane environments that cultivated learning. -He felt that the teachers should be kinder and respect their students rather than trying to beat the knowledge into them. -Comenius did not believe in the practice of corporal punishment in schools. -He felt that children should be helped and encouraged when they fail not punished. -Punishment is a deterrent that can discourage learning, but helping children during their failures they continue to grow. "Therefore, children are to be treated as if they are more precious than gold.... Materials should be adapted to their ability to learn**." **([|http://www.hnu.edu.ph/main/publication/kinaadman/2181007/218100719.pdf])**
 * -He saw children as precious gifts from God, so he did not agree with an oppressive learning environment.