John Locke, a rational guy. A
visionary. A mind before his time. I rather liked the little synopsis in the
Demers reading about the rational moralists Locke and Rousseau. When I think about it it’s quite amazing that
it was in 1692 when Locke’s Some Thoughts
Concerning Education was published. His idea that children are
rational beings rather than little adults was revolutionary for his time. I
believe in some of his methods for teaching children are effective. But
considering Locke’s place in society his it is apparent that his method would
not be available for all children. First of all you would have to have money.
At least have enough money to pay for a tutor or personal instructor. And it
seems like he was definitely addressing the education of boys. So if you were
lucky enough to be a boy born into a family with enough money to afford a
teacher that was willing to instruct you according to Locke’s thoughts
concerning education I would say that you would be a lucky young lad for the
time.
So I imagine myself being one of these
boys lucky enough to get this type of education. Thank god I don’t have to sit
through Greek and Latin before I have even mastered English. I have to learn my
manners first. Root out my bad habits and learn good virtues. My tutor keeps
reiterating the importance of my character. Character before knowledge. But once I have what is deemed a strong
character I can concentrate on the bookish side of education. Sometimes I don’t
like it but I am told that I may be a fine scholar one day that can pass on my
knowledge to my brothers. My instructor and I play lots of games with blocks
and balls with letters on them. Sometimes I can’t believe that my dad pays this
guy money to play games with me…
Well I think an education like that
would have been much better than the typical rote learning that was popular
back then. His ideas were just the beginning of changing the way we educate
children. His advocacy of play as an important part of a children’s learning
process is still ignored all too often today.
Ps. I know this is slightly off topic
and last weeks news but I found it interesting.
I can't imagine a childhood without toys to play with, even educational ones. Blocks taught me letters, counting, building, and how to clean up after myself. Toys taught me animal sounds, strategy, and competition. To this day, educational games still hold a place in my life. I tried to learn how to type using a program that has me kill zombies by pressing the appropriate letter that flashes on the screen (it didn't work, though). It's amazing how one mind can change history.
ReplyDelete- Scott
It's interesting that you brought up how the people who would get the education was really a small and privileged part of the population (and even smaller part would get Locke's teachings when it first started). I didn't even think about that when I was reading Locke's works. Chances are I would have been taught things to make me a good societal lady.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I love that cracked article. Every time I read it, I'm thoroughly intrigued.
I like the point you make about Locke's method not being available to all children. You're right. Times were different, and because his teaching methods were revolutionary it would have been hard to find an instructor to teach a child in this way. Although you're right that even to this day many still don't agree with the concept of playing and learning, there are many more options today than there were at Locke's time.
ReplyDeleteI don't know if this was intentional, but you're right about that hypothetical student being a lucky lad -- as in, sucked to be female in the 18th century. While boys were prepared for a life in the public sphere (politics, law, medicine, academia), girls were groomed to stay in the private sphere of home and children and family. If it weren't for the Bible and the importance placed on reading it in Protestant cultures, women probably never would have learned to read at all & we never would have had Phyllis Wheatley or Anne Bradstreet.
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