Johann Pestalozzi

Contributions

• Influenced schools for young children in the 19th century
• "The Hand, Heart, and Head":
• a child's physical, emotional, social, moral, and intellectual development are integrated
• "How Gertrude Teaches Her Children"
• Proposed that children learn through stages & they need to master the first stage to progress to the next one
• Constructivism:
• a child discovers ideas for themselves through their own activity
• Teachers are Gardeners: a child's development is a natural blossoming and teachers nurture the process instead of direct it
• Children are motivated to learn through their interests rather than punishment or threats

Timeline

Fascinating Facts

• January 12, 1746: Born in Switzerland
• 1761: Pestalozzi attended school where he learned about Rousseau's ideas
• 1770s: Developed Neuhof, school for the poor
• 1798: French Army invaded Switzerland, so Swiss gov't asked Pestalozzi to develop an orphanage
• 1801: Published "How Gertrude Teaches Her Children"
• Described his philosophy
• 1799-1804: Opened a school in Burgdorf
• 1805-1825: Director of an institute in Yverdon where Owen and Froebel studied with Pestalozzi and his ideas spread to Germany, France, Italy, Russia, and the U.S.
• February 17, 1827: Pestalozzi passes away

• Pestalozzi had financial issues himself and was poor for most of his life
• Was arrested for three days for his early political career
• Married Anna Schulthess and had one son
• Was inspired by Rousseau's works and ideas
• Believed society could be changed by education

Johann Pestalozzi

Historical Person Presentation

Program Connections

Background Information

January 12, 1746- February 17,1827

• Neuhof: orphanage
• Burgdof: boarding school for boys
• Yverdon: director for 20 years
• Influenced a well-known school founded by Robert Owens in Scotland
• Owen spread Pestalozzi's ideas to America
• Served as the earliest form of child care center

• Born in Switzerland
• Father died when he was young
• Grew up in poverty
• Observed Rousseau's theory of human development
• Worked in several schools and implemented his practices
• Became an educator and developed philosophies that are utilized today

Take Home Message

Questions

• Pestalozzi focused on the "whole child" development of physical, emotional, social, moral, and intellectual ability as they developed in stages
• Rejected punishment and threats as motivators for children to succeed
• Children learn through direct observation and sensory experience in the natural world
• Teachers nurture the process of child development rather than direct it
• All children benefit from education

• How would you implement Pestalozzian principles in your classroom?
• Does Pestalozzi's ideas and principles relate to another theorist or historical person? Who?
• How does understanding children's stages of development help to successfully teach them?
• How is Pestalozzi different from other historical people?
• How would you implement Pestalozzi's idea of not using threat or punishments as motivation for students?