to instil learning and piety, it is evident that learning is of little use unless we can express it fitly. Therefore, in their early youth children should be taught to speak well.[1] Of the teachers no more is specified than that they should excel other men in learning and piety.[2] Some corporal punishment is necessary, but masters who take actual pleasure in flogging must be removed from their office.[3] Not all boys should be sent to school, but only those who are naturally fitted for the study of letters.[4] A certain number of poor children should be educated, but these must be of exceptional ability, and are to be excluded from the school at once if they give any trouble.[5] In each town there should be one school.[6] In large cities such as Paris more are naturally required; but if possible the educational needs of a town should be met by one Gymnasium of the liberal arts.
This Gymnasium should be divided into nine classes, in each of which the boy remains one year. In this manner, if he goes to school in his sixth year, he will be able to proceed to a university course of five years at the age of sixteen.[7] The removes from one class to another shall take place in October, and shall be made the occasion for an imposing ceremony at which the magistrates, clergymen, parents of boys and their friends should be present, and when prizes should be given to the first two boys in each class.[8]
Sturm then proceeds to give a detailed programme for each class, commencing with the ninth or lowest.
In this class reading and writing are taught. Care must be taken that the pupils learn to form their letters as neatly as possible, and particular attention must be given to reading aloud. Boys must be shown how to moderate their voices and how to speak distinctly. If any time is
- ↑ ‘De Literarum Ludis recte aperiendis Liber Joannis Sturmii, emendatus et auctus ab ipso Auctore. Argentorati, 1557’ (1st ed. 1538), p. 4.
- ↑ Ibid. p. 5.
- ↑ Amovendi a literariis ludis sunt quicunque ex verberibus voluptatem capiunt.
- ↑ Ibid. p. 9.
- ↑ Ibid. p. 12.
- ↑ Ibid. p. 14.
- ↑ Ibid. p. 16.
- ↑ Ibid. p. 18.
