Jean-Jacques Rousseau
1712-1778
Un peu d'histoire (A little history)
- The Enlightenment (French Intellectual Movement)
- Writer, composer, political theorist, and more
- Naturalism: Freedom of the individual
- Du contrat social (Social Contract Theory): Sparked the French and American Revolutions
Émile, ou de l'éducation (On Education)
- 1762
- Focus on child centered education- Man is born inherently good
- Describes ideal education of a young boy
- Concerned with focusing on natural abilities
- Learn by direct experience of the senses
- Not to be punished
- Education at the pace of the child keeping in mind their interests
- Concern with physical health
So what?
- Idea of focusing on individual as opposed to whole group
- Keeping students interests/learning styles in mind while teaching
- The child is the main focus of education