6. The mother is the natural educator of the child in its early years. "Maternal love is the first agent in education; ... through it the child is led to love and trust his Creator and his Redeemer." It follows, therefore, that mothers should be educated. 7. He illustrated his principles in his methods of instruction. He employed the phonic method in spelling;[147] made use of objects in teaching number; graded the work according to the capacity of the children; taught drawing, language, composition, etc., by use, thus illustrating one of the aphorisms of Comenius,--"_We learn to do by doing_." 8. But the greatest lesson that Pestalozzi taught is embodied in the word _love_. He loved little children, he loved the distressed and lowly, he loved all his fellow-men. By the spirit which actuated him, by the methods of instruction employed, by a life of disappointment and apparent failure, by the appreciation of his service after he had gone to his rest, by the accelerated growth of his teachings throughout the world, he more closely resembles the Great Teacher than any other man that has ever lived. Dr. Harris says, "He is the first teacher to announce convincingly the doctrine that all people should be educated,--that, in fact, education is the one good gift to give to all, whether rich or poor."[148] Hence there is no character in educational history more worthy of study and more inspiring to the teacher than Johann Heinrich Pestalozzi. FOOTNOTES: [133] In regard to the criticisms made against him at Burgdorf, Pestalozzi says: "It was whispered that I myself could not write, nor work accounts, nor even read properly. Popular reports are not always entirely wrong. It is true I could not write, nor read, nor work accounts well." [134] "Life, Work, and Influence of Pestalozzi," p. 17. [135] Both Quick and Kruesi give this letter in full. [136] "Schoolmaster in Literature," pp. 83-110. [137] See Kruesi, p. 28, for an account of his appointment. [138] "Pestalozzi," p. 36. [139] "Encyklopaedisches Handbuch der Paedagogik," Vol. V, p. 315. [140] "Encyklopaedisches Handbuch," Vol. V, p. 319. [141] Kruesi, whose father was associated with Pestalozzi, gives a full account of these dissensions. He also tells many interesting incidents connected with Pestalozzi and his school at Yverdon, p. 45. [142] Should be eighty-one. [143] 1827. [144] "Educational Reformers," p. 183. [145] "Encyklopaedisches Handbuch," Vol. V, p. 320. [146] "In him the most interesting thing is _his life_."--QUICK. [147] Not original with Pestalozzi,--see Port Royalists. [148] For statement of his principles, see Compayre, p. 438; Williams, p. 312; Kruesi, p. 169. CHAPTER XXXIX MODERN EDUCATORS (_Continued_) FROEBEL (1782-1852)