Comenius and the Beginnings of Educational Reform

"Comenius and the Beginnings of Educational Reform" by W. S. Monroe is a journey back in time to explore the changing world of education, particularly spotlighting John Amos Comenius's important work and the educational innovators who came before him, like Vives, Bacon, and Ratke. The book shows how Comenius’s ideas changed teaching methods and later inspired others to improve schools. It starts by describing what schools were like in 16th century Europe, where learning Latin and old books was most important. Monroe points out the problems with this approach, such as ignoring native languages and practical skills. He also mentions thinkers like Rabelais and Montaigne, who argued for changes that would encourage children's natural curiosity and understanding, paving the way for Comenius’s influential teachings that tried to make education better for everyone.