The Educational Philosophy of Johann Heinrich Pestalozzi

The Educational Philosophy of Johann Heinrich Pestalozzi

Pestalozzi's Focus

• The interests and needs of the child

• A child centered rather than teacher centered approach to learning

• Active rather than passive participation in the learning experience

• Emphasis on how things are taught as well as what is taught.

The Significance of Pestalozzi Today

The Special Method

He encouraged classroom visits and participation by parents and believed strongly in regular communication with them about their children’s progress...He accepted children from all backgrounds, including those with emotional problems, and even opened a school for hearing impaired children. (Modern Education 2013)

• Emphasized sensory learning and concept formation
• Consisted of a series of object lessons
• Observance of objects found in their immediate environment

Pestalozzi's Educational Philosophy

By using object lessons, children could examine minerals, plants, and animals of the natural order as well as artifacts made by human beings. (Gutek, 2014)

The General Method

A Milestone to Consider

• Based on emotional security
• Models mother-child relationship
• Promotes nuturing teacher-student relationship

Pestalozzi believed that an environment of trust and security would eventually produce better relationships between people and nations.

Johann Pestalozzi

Jean Jaques Rousseau

Was influenced by Rousseau

In 1799, Pestalozzi volunteered his service as a teacher to the village of Burgdorf, where he used his own educational methods in his work with children. However, due to the non-traditional nature of his teaching, the villagers became suspicious of Pestalozzi’s success, with the result that he was compelled to open his own private school. In a short time, with two additional teachers, the school became the center of international attention and fame, and received government support.

by Marlon Weaver

(Silber, 2015)

Important Note

Johann Heinrich Pestalozzi was a Swiss pedagogue and educational reformer, who greatly influenced the development of the educational system in Europe and America. Not only was he an innovative teacher, but he was also committed to social reform, and carried out several humanitarian projects involving children orphaned during war.

Johann Heinrich Pestalozzi

His father died when Johann was only five, and his mother raised Johann and his sister alone

Johann started his formal education rather late, at the age of nine, but successfully completed school on time

(Modern Education 2013)

Let's meet a pioneer of Educational Philosophy

(January 12, 1746 – February 17, 1827)

• 1747 Born in Zurich, Switzerland.

• 1760 Entered University of Zurich to study theology.

• He changed to law and politics without success

• 1769 he settled on his farm, “Neuhof,” with plans to improve agriculture for the poor

• 1774 he took poor children into his house, they worked by spinning and weaving and learned simultaneously to become self-supporting. (Silber, 2017)

What is a Philosophy of Education?

"A philosophy of education represents answers to questions about the purpose of schooling, a teacher's role, and what should be taught and by what means."

David Sadker

In 1780, Pestalozzi wrote a series of reflections The Evening Hours of a Hermit, which outlined his basic theory that education begins at home and should occur naturally through direct experience.

...Any One Of Us has the ability as well as the opportunity to improve on classroom management.

The amount of resources and what we need to learn is ever changing therefore, the way we learn and the way we teach should change as well...

Conclusion

Pestalozzi Children's Education Centre, POKHARA

At this time we are the teacher but at all times we can be students; It's never too late to learn...mweav

Play Video to See

Pestalozzi School

"it is life itself that teaches." Pestalozzi

For this Child Centered Approach

Techniques Used Today

Pestalozzi developed a so-called "object lesson" that involved exercises in learning form, number, and language. Pupils determined and traced an object's form, counted objects, and named them. Students progressed from these lessons to exercises in drawing, writing, adding, subtracting, multiplying, dividing, and reading. (Kristen Douglas, Sara Ward, Leslie Veiga, 1970)

Personal Connection & Application

• Games that developed social and physical skills

• Children learning to participate in groups.

My daughter and I recently enjoyed a nature walk at City Forest in Bangor, Maine.

We picked fresh berries, listened to birds as well as watch dragonflies.

• Object lessons using shapes and cut out letters

• Building activities using clay, sand, cardboard and sticks

the walk and conversation with my daughter was a small example of what Pestalozzi envisioned for education as a whole.

Pestalozzi structured his method of teaching into two related phases: the general and special methods. (Gutek, 2014)

Pestalozzi Influenced:

Friedrich Froebel

inventor of

kindergarten

References:

Gutek, G. L. (2014). Historical and Philosophical Foundations of Education: A Biographical Introduction. Boston, MA: Pearson.

Johann Heinrich Pestalozzi-Father of Modern Education. (2013, April). Retrieved August 10, 2017, from http://modeducation.blogspot.com/2013/01/johann-heinrich-pestalozzifather-of.html

Kristen Douglas, Sara Ward, Leslie Veiga. (1970, January 01). BEGINNINGS ON EDUCATION. Retrieved August 22, 2017, from http://premiseofschool2009.blogspot.com/2009/10/johann-heinrich-pestalozzi.html

“Pestalozzi Children's Education Centre, POKHARA.” YouTube, YouTube, 14 Nov. 2016, www.youtube.com/watch?v=MW_DY76EQcE&t=15s. Accessed 16 Aug. 2017.

Sadker,D. (2017). Philosophy of Education. Retrieved August 09, 2017, from

http://highered.mheducation.com/sites/0072877723/student_view0/chapter9/index.html

Silber, K. (n.d.). Johann Heinrich Pestalozzi. Retrieved August 11, 2017, from https://www.britannica.com/biography/Johann-Heinrich-Pestalozzi

Silber, K. (2015). Johann Heinrich Pestalozzi. Retrieved August 09, 2017, from http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Johann_Heinrich_Pestalozzi