Historical Foundations of Education:

HUMANISM

Foundations of Education
Topic Outline

Humanism during the

Renaissance and Reformation
Period
 Renaissance Period

Mona lisa by Leonardo La Pieta by Michelangelo

Da Vinci
 Renaissance Period

Copernicus discovers Columbus discovered the

the earth revolved Americas
around the sun
 Reformation Period

Martin Luther started the

Reformation period Gutenbuerg Perfected the
Printing Press
HUMANISM

◦  Humanist beliefs stress the potential value and

goodness of human beings, emphasize
common human needs, and seek solely rational
ways of solving human problems.

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HUMANISM
 Derivedfrom the Latin word humanitas which
means “culture”.
 Thismovement started in the early part of the 14th
even up to the 16th century.
 This period was marked by a revival of the
classical influences of the Romans and Greeks,
expressed in the flowering of the arts and
literature as well as the beginning of modern
science.
The Renaissance Period
 RENAISSANCE came from the French word “renaitre” .

 It was a general re-awakening, a revival or rebirth of learning.

 The renaissance upheld the dignity of the human being, renewed the
spirit of nationalism.

 It is also the time for increased trade among countries, and a period of
exploration.

 This lead to scientific research which was used to solve problems.

 Books were printed and thus were made more widely available.
Different movements that arise during
the Renaissance Period
 Humanism
 The Reformation
 Protestant Reformation
 Catholic-Counter Reformation
 Realism
 Disciplinism
 Rationalism
 Naturalism
 Nationalism
 Developmentalism
Humanistic Education was the
outgrowth of the renaissance.
It identified two phases:
1. Italian Humanism or individual
humanism

2. Humanism North of the Alps

(NotA) or the Social humanism
Italian or
individual
humanism
This stressed
personal culture,
individual
freedom and
the development
of the elite
group.
Aims of Italian Humanism

1. Academic Freedom
2. Abundant Living
3. Liberal Education
Types of Education

1. Literary and Aesthetic

Education
2. Physical Education
3. Moral and Religious Training
4. Intellectual Training
Agencies of Humanistic Education

1. Lower or elementary schools

2. Secondary or Court schools
3. Universities

Organization of Grade Levels

1. Girls were taught by tutors at home
2. The boys had to go through school step
by step: elementary, high school and
university.
Methods of Instruction

1. Lecture
2. Writing Themes
3. Development of Self-expression
4. Development of interest and
power of thinking
5. Balanced mental and physical
activity.
Methods of Instruction (cont.)

6. Curriculum was varied and

there was alteration of
subjects.
7. Discipline was mild and
motivation was emphasized.
8. Punishment – not used as
motivation for learning
Financing
Rich children paid
Bright but poor children
received aid.
The court (secondary) schools
were founded and supported by
the princes and dukes of the
Italian city-states.
Italian Humanism contributed the
following to education:
1. Secondary schools served as models in other
countries.
2. Academic freedom was founded: freedom of
thought, self-expression, and creative activity.
3. Revival of Roman and Greek classics.
4. Use of texts and less of lectures and written
themes instead of oral recitation.
Humanism North of the Alps
This Social Humanism started by the work
of the Hieronymians or Brothers of the
Common Life, a nonmonastic order
founded in Holland 1376.

Characteristics of the Northern

Humanism
1.The piety of the brethren – Kempis
2.Their broad literary spirit - Erasmus
 Popular Humanist during this time:
Erasmus
1466-1536
- a Dutch scholar
- Known for his
educational works
“Liberal Education
of children” & “On
the Order of Study”
 Popular Humanist during this time:
Thomas à Kempis
1380-1471
- a German writer
- Known for his
works in volumes
and one volume is
entitled “The
Imitation of Christ”
Aims of Northern Humanism
1. Social – to reform society from greed,
selfishness and exploitation by Church
and political leaders.
2. Religious and moral – morality ahead of
manners.
3. Literacy – to wipe out the ignorance of
the people.
4. Literary
5. Democratic – to make education
accessible to all classes of society.
Types of Education

1. Social education
2. Religious and moral education
3. Literacy education
4. Literary education
5. Democratic education
Agencies of Education
1. Lower or elementary schools
2. Secondary schools
Famous secondary schools
◦St. Paul School in London by John Colet
◦Gymnasium in Germany by Johann Sturm
3. Universities
Famous Universities
◦Cambridge – Erasmus was the first teacher
◦Oxford
◦University of Wittenburg – by Melanchthon