How did Jesuit classroom methods encourage competition among students?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

Title page of a 1568 Welsh Christian doctrine book by Morys Clynnog, featuring Welsh text and a woodcut illustration of the crucifixion of Jesus at the center. — Counter-Reformation Title page of *Athravaeth Gristnogavl* (1568; “Christian Doctrine”), a Roman Catholic catechism translated into Welsh by Morys Clynnog as part of the church's Counter-Reformation efforts.

In the context of the Counter-Reformation, the Society of Jesus utilized specific classroom techniques to foster academic engagement. To encourage competition among students, Jesuit teachers frequently divided the class into two distinct groups. This practice, known as emulation, was designed to stimulate rivalry and motivate students within the structured environment of their colleges.1