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What advice for early childhood education did John Amos Comenius give in The School of Infancy?
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John Amos Comenius
John Amos Comenius, oil on canvas by Jürgen Ovens, 1650ā70; in the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam.
In The School of Infancy, John Amos Comenius addressed the education of children during their first six years of life, a period he referred to as the "mother school".12
His primary advice centered on the following principles:
- Nature-Based Learning: Comenius advocated that teachers and parents should "follow in the footsteps of nature," meaning they must pay close attention to the child's mind and the natural way in which a student learns.2
- Development of Faculties: During this stage, the focus of the family grouping should be on the development of the child's basic physical faculties.1
- Preparation for Future Learning: He viewed this early period as the foundational stage for his broader educational system, which aimed to lead children toward "full humanity"ārationality, morality, and happiness.1
By focusing on these early years, Comenius sought to ensure that learning would eventually become a rapid, pleasant, and thorough process for all children.2