South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1921-03-09
SCHOOL CHILDREN
MAY HONOR BIRTH
OF NOTED AUTHOR
Creator of First Picture Text
Book Was John Amos
COmenius.

WASHINGTON, March s. - The
! L. S. commissioner Of education has
asked that the birthday Of John
Amos Comenius be observed in
American public schools on March
| %, in conjunction with its commem-
grafton in Czecho-Slovakia. The
National Geographic society has is-
sued the following bulletin concern
ing the famous Moravian educator,
author Of the first picture textbook
and the first advocate OF teaching
science in the schools:
THE births OF new nations usual
~ mean the creation Of new national
heroes. In the new countries Of
/ Europe not only will the men who
played parts in their Liberation be
honored in years to come; but the
new nationalities already are plan
ming to pay belated tribute to the
outstanding figures Of the periods
OF their oppression.
Take Czecho-Slovakia, a coun-
try which holds a particular interest
for Americans. since its declaration
OF independence was written in a
Washington, D. G.. hotel. and con-
densed so II might be printed in fun
in Boston newspaper, and its con-
stitution embodIes many features Of
our form OF government.
at may augur we'll for the future
peace Of Europe that Czecho- Slo-
vakia. has chosen to commemorate
as one Of its major holidays the
birthday, not Of a warrior, or even
a political leader. but of a school
teacher.
Widely Known Educator.
I'm reading about Comenlus there
also will be much about pansophic
schools, and the intuitive method
and naturalistic conceptions Of edu-
cation. But If you would get a more
vivid picture Of the pioneer service
Of this forerunner Of Rousseau, Fro
bel, Pestalozzi, and Montessori try
to imagine your school today as a
place where:
Pupils devoted nearly all their
time 10 memorizing page after page
OF dreary texts.
"All teaching had 20 be done
through a foreign language CI>atinJ
mo objects were studied and only
abstract words were used,
Little was studied which related
to the physical world. the child's en-
vironment, or his daily experience,
Nor was there any teaching OF
science, even Of geography, nature
study. animal and bird life.
None OF the words. dealing
largely with things the pupils never
saw. were illustrated with pictures
And a kindergarten. physical ex-
ercise, play periods. attention 20 n.y.
giene were virtually unknown.
IF you can imagine that kind OF
school you will gain some con.
Comenius, which he tried 20 i'm.
prove IN nearly all OF the Particular
mentioned.
Most widely known. perhaps. o,
Comenius' books in the 'Orbis Pic
tue thought by some 10 have beer
the first children's picture book. and
certainly the first application OF pic
lures for school teaching by visua
instruction.
The 'Orbis Pictus' was an effor
10 simplify and intensity the teach
ing OF Latin. It's plan was 20 teach
words through things. or the OBJ
jects for which they stand. The ma
terial covering plants, animals
people. occupations. and all sorts OF
ideas and activities that could b,
visualized-fire. air. water. earth
cky. wind. etc.-was illustrated anC
given in parallel columns in Latlr
and the vernacular. To resort Z,
our own vernacular. much OF tn,
effort toward visual instruction 20
day might be described as an eGor
] to catch up with Comenius."