How not to educate classically: Schiller

[Violet Crown]

In The Paris Review, the education of Friedrich Schiller:

 

http://www.theparisreview.org/blog/2013/03/13/enlightened-schiller-at-the-hohe-carlsschule/

 

"Despite the school’s professional emphasis, Carl-Eugen stressed that students’ primary area of study was the knowledge of man, the most cherished of Enlightenment values. To that end, classes were given regular essay assignments like “Which student among you has the worst moral character?†Time was set aside for the students to write detailed studies of another’s characters and habits. The first existing piece of Schiller’s writing is one such essay, written when the poet was fifteen years old. Asked to analyze an older student named Karl Kempff, the young Schiller pulls no punches. With an astonishing mix of eloquence, astuteness, and coldness for a fifteen-year-old, Schiller accuses Kempff of mediocrity, egotism, crudeness, envy, malice, and false modesty. Schiller’s brutal honesty is particularly shocking in light of the fact that students could be punished for infractions revealed in the studies. Practically, the reports had the effect of undermining the students’ sense that they were victims of authority by turning them into co-perpetrators. The duke would stand by as the essays were read aloud and chide the students if he felt that they were being insufficiently specific."

 

Now there's a writing prompt for you.

[momma2three]

OMG!

 

So ludicrous, I couldn't help but laugh! Those poor kids.

[happymomofboys]

Yeah.. we won't be doing that. :huh:

[HejKatt]

Well, how not educate period. The article's description of the school was disturbing in so many ways, I was expecting the school to be exposed and the administration chastised but alas, this is reality and not fiction.

[MeghanL]

wow! That is one oppressive environment for learning!