Jean-Baptiste Girard (pedagogue)
Encyclopedia
Jean-Baptiste Girard was a Swiss Franciscan
educator.
; after spending some time teaching in the colleges of the order, he went to Würzburg
for his philosophical and theological studies, and was there ordained to the priesthood.
Returning to Fribourg in 1789, he spent ten years in missionary work and in teaching philosophy to the young men of his order. His orthodoxy came under some suspicion, caused by his admiration for Kantian ideas.
Upon the invitation of Stapfer, minister of arts and sciences, Girard wrote a plan for education in Switzerland and was called to Verne
where he remained four years. In 1804 he was recalled to Fribourg, and took up work in the primary schools.
As director of the schools in Fribourg (1807–1823), Girard made education compulsory, organized the school administration, insisted on the adoption of good textbooks and methods, and introduced the monitorial system, avoiding the abuse of mere memory exercise and making every study converge to the child's complete education. These successful reforms were the occasion for bitter opposition.
In 1809 Girard was sent to Yverdon-les-Bains
to make a report to the Government on Pestalozzi
's institutlon. He had met the latter in Berne
and professed admiration for his ability as an educator, while differing from him on several important points, especially on the value of the monitorial system. This method, in fact, which Girard applied, was opposed by the bishop and the civil authorities of Fribourg, in 1823.
Girard abandoned his school and went to Lucerne as professor of philosophy in the gymnasium. In 1834 he returned to Fribourg, where he remained till his death, engaged in educational pursuits and in the publication of some of his works. He had a great reputation in France, being a Knight of the Legion of Honour, and a corresponding member of the Académie des Sciences morales et politiques.
These works banish abstractions that are above the child's understanding, principles and rules being taught chiefly by means of concrete examples, and difficulties being introduced gradually.
Franciscan
Most Franciscans are members of Roman Catholic religious orders founded by Saint Francis of Assisi. Besides Roman Catholic communities, there are also Old Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, ecumenical and Non-denominational Franciscan communities....
educator.
Life
At sixteen he entered the novitiate of the Franciscans at LucerneLucerne
Lucerne is a city in north-central Switzerland, in the German-speaking portion of that country. Lucerne is the capital of the Canton of Lucerne and the capital of the district of the same name. With a population of about 76,200 people, Lucerne is the most populous city in Central Switzerland, and...
; after spending some time teaching in the colleges of the order, he went to Würzburg
Würzburg
Würzburg is a city in the region of Franconia which lies in the northern tip of Bavaria, Germany. Located at the Main River, it is the capital of the Regierungsbezirk Lower Franconia. The regional dialect is Franconian....
for his philosophical and theological studies, and was there ordained to the priesthood.
Returning to Fribourg in 1789, he spent ten years in missionary work and in teaching philosophy to the young men of his order. His orthodoxy came under some suspicion, caused by his admiration for Kantian ideas.
Upon the invitation of Stapfer, minister of arts and sciences, Girard wrote a plan for education in Switzerland and was called to Verne
Verne
-Surname:*Jules Verne , French early science-fiction writer*Adela Verne , English pianist and minor composer*Kaaren Verne , German actress*Larry Verne , American novelty song singer...
where he remained four years. In 1804 he was recalled to Fribourg, and took up work in the primary schools.
As director of the schools in Fribourg (1807–1823), Girard made education compulsory, organized the school administration, insisted on the adoption of good textbooks and methods, and introduced the monitorial system, avoiding the abuse of mere memory exercise and making every study converge to the child's complete education. These successful reforms were the occasion for bitter opposition.
In 1809 Girard was sent to Yverdon-les-Bains
Yverdon-les-Bains
Yverdon-les-Bains is a municipality in the district of Jura-Nord vaudois of the canton of Vaud in Switzerland. It is the seat of the district...
to make a report to the Government on Pestalozzi
Pestalozzi
Pestalozzi may refer to:* Johann Heinrich Pestalozzi * Hans A. Pestalozzi Schools with that name:* Colegio Pestalozzi, Argentina* Pestalozzi-Gymnasium Biberach, Germany* Kinderdorf Pestalozzi, Switzerland...
's institutlon. He had met the latter in Berne
Berne
The city of Bern or Berne is the Bundesstadt of Switzerland, and, with a population of , the fourth most populous city in Switzerland. The Bern agglomeration, which includes 43 municipalities, has a population of 349,000. The metropolitan area had a population of 660,000 in 2000...
and professed admiration for his ability as an educator, while differing from him on several important points, especially on the value of the monitorial system. This method, in fact, which Girard applied, was opposed by the bishop and the civil authorities of Fribourg, in 1823.
Girard abandoned his school and went to Lucerne as professor of philosophy in the gymnasium. In 1834 he returned to Fribourg, where he remained till his death, engaged in educational pursuits and in the publication of some of his works. He had a great reputation in France, being a Knight of the Legion of Honour, and a corresponding member of the Académie des Sciences morales et politiques.
Works
Besides many reports and memoirs, his principal writings are:- "Cours de philosophie fait au Lycée de Lucerne" (1829–31);
- "Des moyens de stimuler l'activité dans les écoles" (1835);
- "Parallèle entre la philosophie et la physique" (1840); and
- "Cours éducatif de langue maternelle" (Paris, 1840–48).
These works banish abstractions that are above the child's understanding, principles and rules being taught chiefly by means of concrete examples, and difficulties being introduced gradually.