Pestalozzi, << pehs tuh LOT see, >> Johann Heinrich (1746-1827), was a Swiss educator who became a pioneer of modern education. Many of his ideas were new and startling for his time but have been absorbed into present-day educational practices and theory.
Pestalozzi was one of the first educators to base his ideas on child psychology. He adjusted his teaching methods to children’s stages of development. In all his theories, he stressed the dignity and worth of each person. He believed the purpose of education is to ensure the full development of each student’s unique abilities. He thought education should aim for the intellectual, physical, and moral development of the individual.
Pestalozzi’s teaching methods were revolutionary for his time. For example, he felt children could learn best in an atmosphere of love and freedom rather than by harsh discipline. Therefore, a child’s education should begin in a warm and loving family. He also taught children to use their senses and to learn from doing rather than simply memorizing facts.
Many of Pestalozzi’s educational theories were based on what he called Anschauung, a German word that means perception or observation. He felt that observation of objects, other people, and moral situations is the basis of all true knowledge. He believed children progress from an understanding of simple objects to a comprehension of difficult philosophical concepts.
Pestalozzi left a lasting impact on education. His emphasis on the importance of understanding children helped establish the need for careful teacher training.
Pestalozzi was born on Jan. 12, 1746, in Zurich, Switzerland. He attended the University of Zurich, where he first studied for the ministry and later changed to law. He abandoned both careers and took up farming. In 1774, he turned his farm into a school for poor children, where he developed many of his educational ideas. In 1798, the Swiss government appointed Pestalozzi to head an orphanage at Stans, near Lucerne. During the early 1800’s, Pestalozzi founded schools in Burgdorf and Yverdon. His work at these schools brought him international recognition. Educators from Europe and North America came to study his methods. Many of them formed teacher institutes based on Pestalozzi’s ideas. His major theories are presented in his books Leonard and Gertrude (1781-1787) and How Gertrude Teaches Her Children (1801). Pestalozzi died on Feb. 17, 1827.
