“The difference is great between two or three pupils in the same
house, and three or four score boys lodged up and down; for let the
master’s industry and skill be never so great, it is impossible he
should have fifty or a hundred scholars under his eye any longer than
they are in the school together; nor can it be expected that he should
instruct them successfully in anything but their books; the forming of
their minds and manners requiring a constant attention, and particular
application to every single boy, which is impossible in a numerous
flock, and would be wholly in vain, (could he have time to study and
correct every one’s particular defects and wrong inclinations) when
the lad was to be left to himself, or the prevailing infection of his
fellows, the greatest part of the four and twenty hours”.
“What qualities are ordinarily to be got from such a troop of
play-fellows as schools usually assemble together from parents of all
kinds, that a father should so much covet, is hard to divine” (7: pp.
48-49).
Thus we see that while Comenius pointed to an ideal school and
preached its gospel, Locke, by showing us the defects of the school,
persuades us to flee into his idealized home. The actual condition of
the average home and the increasing need of modern society makes the
school indispensable, in spite of its imperfections as an educational
institution. Nevertheless, it is well for us always to keep our eyes
open to the defects and dangers of mass education.
REFERENCES
1. +Bourne, Henry Richard Fox.+ The Life of John Locke. 2 vols.
Harper, New York, 1876.
2. +Browning, Oscar.+ An Introduction to the History of
Educational Theories. Kellogg, New York, 1880. 237 pages.
3. +Compayré, Jules Gabriel.+ History of Pedagogy. Translated,
with an introduction, notes, and an index, by W. H. Payne. Heath &
Co., Boston, 1899. 598 pages.
4. +Heman, Friedrich.+ Geschichte der neueren Pädagogik.
Zickfeldt, Osterwieck, 1904. 436 pages.
5. +Heubaum, Alfred.+ Geschichte der deutschen Bildungswesens
seit der Mitte der siebzehnten Jahrhunderts. Vol. I. Bis zum Beginn
der allgemeinen Unterrichtsreform unter Friedrich dem Grossen.
Weidmann, Berlin, 1905. 402 pages.
6. +Laurie, Simon Somerville.+ Studies in the History of
Educational Opinions from the Renaissance. University Press,
Cambridge, 1903. 261 pages.
7. +Locke, John.+ Some Thoughts Concerning Education. With
introduction and notes by R. H. Quick. University Press, Cambridge.
Second edition, 1889. 240 pages.
8. ---- On the Conduct of the Understanding. Maynard, New York, 1901.
132 pages.
9. ---- An Essay on the Human Understanding. 3 vols. M. Tegg, London,
1832.
10. +Monroe, Paul.+ A Text-book in the History of Education.
Macmillan Co., London and New York, 1905. 772 pages.
11. +Munroe, James Phinney.+ The Educational Ideal: an Outline
of its Growth in Modern Times. Heath & Co., Boston, 1896. 262 pages.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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