Johann Sturm: Selections from "Correct Opening of Elementary Schools of Letters", IV

"The virtues of the mind are ardor in understanding, zeal in searching, acumen in comprehending, industrious in accomplishing, and memory in preserving. For where these exist, there is also that integrity of mind of which Plato speaks--love of truth and hatred of what is false. It would be desirable if all such virtues were everywhere found alike in everyone, but this has not been ordained for man's nature which varies widely and is of many types. Those whose talents are found to be but mediocre, should not be rejected from school and elementary education. A judgment cannot be reached hastily and quickly. For some youths of keen mind and nature are at first slow to perceive, but in time and with practice later acquire speed in comprehension. Many youths display natures which lie asleep, oppressed by the dullness of the body. When informed and instructed they nevertheless emerge excellent and distinguished. In some there are excellent gifts of mental perception, but memory is at times slow and at times unreliable. Yet memory can be aroused by teaching and use. The primary concern is for the will which, when present, may be the hope for mental processes. If absent, it must first be stimulated with praise and promises, for many things that do not appear are merely latent...Yet the mediocre minds must also be endured and the poorer impulses of the mind can be improved with teaching and practice."

Johann Sturm (1507-1589), Johann Sturm on Education, Spitz and Tinsley (pg. 79)

Johann Sturm: Selections from "Correct Opening of Elementary Schools of Letters", III

"But in those teachers who are to be selected, three kinds of zeal should be observed: for the humanities, for virtue, and for teaching...Thus the teachers of letters should be not only learned but also endowed with virtue and be most avid for the fatherland and for public service...Furthermore, as to this point, care must be taken that, once the talent of those who are the best qualified is established, we always prefer those who combine ability to achieve with determination and zeal."

Johann Sturm (1507-1589), Johann Sturm on Education, Spitz and Tinsley (pp. 74-75)

Johann Sturm: Selections from "Correct Opening of Elementary Schools of Letters", II

"The best kind of school, therefore, is one in which a system of teaching and of morality is scrupulously observed. For although the goal of our studies is a knowledge of the physical world, still, as we said before, if life if separated from teaching and letters,what usefulness does elegant and liberal education have? Accordingly, let piety and religion be set forth in schools and let the youthful spirit be trained for this through the cultivation of letters."
Johann Sturm on Education, Spitz and Tinsley (pg. 73)

Johann Sturm: Selections from "Correct Opening of Elementary Schools of Letters", I

"There are three things--and these are important--that produce prudence together with wisdom: namely nature, experience, and learning. The former two are common to nearly all people, nevertheless their nature is such that unless the third factor, i.e., learning and discipline, is joined with them, the one (nature) cannot be developed and the other (experience) cannot be employed in practical matters. For God has given us the power of mind together with life; some experience must exist in the man who has been given a rather long life and endowed with some diligence. But either one becomes worth more if a teacher of letters is brought in. When God has given to the teacher a good nature, he stands out always as useful and often as wholesome for the citizenry. But when literary elegance has been improperly applied to corrupted minds, frequently evil and very often wicked examples are apt to result.

For there is nothing more potent than learning. It has the greatest potential both for harming and for helping man. Many wise men have been nonchalant and contemptuous with impunity before threats of kings and tyrants who could not bear the enmity of poets or the shouting of orators. Therefore the arts and disciplines should be taught not only in conformance with the rules of the arts, but also in a way that promotes wholesomeness--both of which in our times have been vitiated."

Johann Sturm on Education, Spitz and Tinsley (pg 73)