Johann Heinrich Pestalozzi
In this posting, I mentioned some thoughts that came into my mind about a square in Zurich . Just next to the square, I saw a statue of Johann Heinrich Pestalozzi. Please see photo below.
I read here that Johann Heinrich Pestalozzi once stated: “The role of the educator is to teach children, not subjects.” Via this source, I learned that Mr. Pestalozzi, who was born in the beautiful city of Zurich , argued that children should learn through activity and through things. They should be free to pursue their own interests and draw their own conclusions. He placed a special emphasis on spontaneity and self-activity. Children should not be given ready-made answers but should arrive at answers themselves. To do this their own powers of seeing, judging and reasoning should be cultivated, their self-activity encouraged. Johann Heinrich Pestalozzi also wanted to combine education with work.
To Pestalozzi the individuality of each child is paramount; it is something that has to be cultivated actively through education. Johann Heinrich Pestalozzi opposed the prevailing system of memorization learning and strict discipline and sought to replace it with a system based on love and an understanding of the child's world. Source.
Not least due to the relatively strong uncertainty avoidance associated with the culture of Switzerland , I find it interesting that a statue of Johann Heinrich Pestalozzi is placed right in the centre of Zurich . What are your thoughts?
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