The education of man / by Friedrich Froebel ; translated from the German and annotated by W. N. Hailmann.
- Fröbel, Friedrich, 1782-1852. Menschenerziehung. English
- Date:
- 1906
Licence: In copyright
Credit: The education of man / by Friedrich Froebel ; translated from the German and annotated by W. N. Hailmann. Source: Wellcome Collection.
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![contaet in all directions of being, and bis self-activity applies to these oLitward tendencies, to doing in its widest sense, as much as it does to the inward tendencies, or to seeing in its widest sense. Froebel, consequently, lays more stress than Pestalozzi on spon- taneity of action, on the adaptation of all activities to the child s power, and on the full, whole-hearted, sympathetic, active co-opera- tion of the teaeher, whom he urges “ to live (to learn and do) wit i the children.” , Froebel’s self-activity is necessarily coupled with ]oy on tlie part of the child. To him joy is the inward reaction of self-activity. Here too, he is closely followed by Spencer, who asks that “ througli- out youth, as in early childhood and maturity, the process (of intel- lectual education) shall be one of self-instniction”; and “that t e mental action induced by this process shall be throughout intrin- sically grateful.” .. v, -4- It. is a matter of great regret that Spencer, who seeras to be quite familiär with Pestalozzi, was unacquainted with Froebel’s work. What a weapon of strength Froebel’s thoughts and suggestions would have proved in Spencer’s hands!—.7>.] § 10. Again, a life wliose ideal value has been per- fectly establisbed in experience never aims to^ serve as model in its fonn, but only in its essence, in its spirit. It is tbe greatest mistake to suppose that spiritual, hu- man perfection can serve as a model in its form. ^ This accounts for the common experience that the taking of such external manifestations of perfection as examples, jnstead of elevating mankind, checks, nay, represses, its development. . .i • n- § 11. Jesus himself, therefore, in his life and in his teachings, constaiitly opposed the Imitation of external perfection. OnWjpiritual, strivin^, living perfection is to be held fast as an ideal; its external manifestation Albn the other hand—its form should not be limited. The highest and most perfect life which we, as Chris- tians, behold in Jesus—the highest known to mankind—](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b28129076_0040.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
