Johann Ernst Plamann
Encyclopedia
Johann Ernst Plamann was a German
child educator. He based his work on the ideas of Johann Heinrich Pestalozzi
and Friedrich Ludwig Jahn
. Among his pupils was future German chancellor Otto von Bismarck
.
and studied theology at the University of Halle. At the age of 26, he was at Berlin
, teaching in private schools, reading Greek and Latin classics
. A growing interest in education received an impulse when he made the acquaintance of the poet Christoph August Tiedge
, who advised him to read the works of Pestalozzi. Plamann was so deeply impressed by what he read that, in May 1803, he set out for Switzerland
with borrowed money, and was cordially received by Pestalozzi. The two men became friends.
Among the teachers were Friedrich Friesen
, Friedrich Ludwig Jahn
, Wilhelm Harnisch
, Karl August Gottlieb Dreist, Ernst Wilhelm Bernhard Eiselen, Karl Friedrich von Klöden
, Friedrich Fröbel, and Ernst Ferdinand August. An ardent Pestalozzian, Plamann was sometimes in conflict with subordinates who attached more weight to the fundamental ideas of the new education than to a minute observance of its method, but he would give a free hand to those who showed capacity and life.
Plamann insisted that a boy was to be developed as a whole. Hence gymnastic exercises (those of Jahn and Eiselen) were freely inserted between the lessons. For a particular pupil, instruction was not spread from the outset over all subjects: the number of subjects taken up and the sequence in which they were pursued depended on the progress of the child.
The greatest stress in the educational program was laid on the formation of character. Plamann thought the aim of all education was to bring the training of the mind into harmony with the moral and religious training, which he thought could only be effected if the former is subordinated to the latter. Children were taught a higher regard for what has moral
or religious
worth than for the most brilliant intellect
ual achievements.
Plamann's institute was located originally in the middle of Berlin near the castle in the Unterwasserstrasse. The situation was chosen because it was from this quarter that the pupils, children of the higher and richer classes, were expected to be drawn, and, for the most part, actually came. But there was no suitable playground
attached, and the boys, to get fresher air, had to walk far through crowded streets. Hence in 1812 a new building was taken near the Halle Gate in the Wilhelmsstrasse (No. 130).
. Bismarck learned gymnastics and geometry from Ernst Eiselen; Greek, Latin, and history from Schwarze; French from Le Fèvre; arithmetic from Beetz; writing from Markwort; natural history from Dietrich; singing from Kantor Tiedtke; and geography from Marias Schmidt. Schmidt came to be distinguished from the other Schmidts in Berlin as "Smith to His Majesty" , tutor to the royal court at Charlottenburg for 25 years. Plamann himself taught Bismarck German, and what is called in German schools religion.
Plamann prepared for the Tertia (the third from the Prima, the highest of the six grades of a Gymnasium), and it was for the Untertertia (the first year of the Tertias two-year course) that Bismarck left, in 1827, to enter the Friedrich-Wilhelm's Gymnasium. Bismarck is said to have bitterly complained about Plamann's institute as a child. Discipline was strict, and Eiselen and his exercises produced lasting and unpleasant memories in Bismarck's mind.
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
child educator. He based his work on the ideas of Johann Heinrich Pestalozzi
Johann Heinrich Pestalozzi
Johann Heinrich Pestalozzi was a Swiss pedagogue and educational reformer who exemplified Romanticism in his approach....
and Friedrich Ludwig Jahn
Friedrich Ludwig Jahn
Friedrich Ludwig Jahn was a German gymnastics educator and nationalist. He is commonly known as Turnvater Jahn, roughly meaning "father of gymnastics" Jahn.- Life :...
. Among his pupils was future German chancellor Otto von Bismarck
Otto von Bismarck
Otto Eduard Leopold, Prince of Bismarck, Duke of Lauenburg , simply known as Otto von Bismarck, was a Prussian-German statesman whose actions unified Germany, made it a major player in world affairs, and created a balance of power that kept Europe at peace after 1871.As Minister President of...
.
Early learning
Plamann attended the Joachimsthal GymnasiumGymnasium (school)
A gymnasium is a type of school providing secondary education in some parts of Europe, comparable to English grammar schools or sixth form colleges and U.S. college preparatory high schools. The word γυμνάσιον was used in Ancient Greece, meaning a locality for both physical and intellectual...
and studied theology at the University of Halle. At the age of 26, he was at Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
, teaching in private schools, reading Greek and Latin classics
Classics
Classics is the branch of the Humanities comprising the languages, literature, philosophy, history, art, archaeology and other culture of the ancient Mediterranean world ; especially Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome during Classical Antiquity Classics (sometimes encompassing Classical Studies or...
. A growing interest in education received an impulse when he made the acquaintance of the poet Christoph August Tiedge
Christoph August Tiedge
Christoph August Tiedge was a German poet.-Biography:Tiedge was the eldest son of the rector of the Gelehrten Stadtschule in Gardelegen and his wife, and studied law in Halle, Saxony-Anhalt. In 1788 he went to Halberstadt, acting for four years as secretary to the Domherr von Steder...
, who advised him to read the works of Pestalozzi. Plamann was so deeply impressed by what he read that, in May 1803, he set out for Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
with borrowed money, and was cordially received by Pestalozzi. The two men became friends.
Institute founding
Plamann returned to Berlin, and at once applied for royal permission to establish an institution where the new Swiss system could be introduced. By this time “Leonard and Gertrude” had made its author known in the Prussian capital, and great hopes were founded on Pestalozzi's reformation: the requisite warrant was issued to the applicant before the end of 1803. Plamann's institute opened in the autumn of 1805. The public authorities gave Plamann's enterprise material support, paying him to train students and teachers in the methods that he practised.Among the teachers were Friedrich Friesen
Friedrich Friesen
Karl Friedrich Friesen was a German gymnast and soldier, one of the principal promoters of gymnastics in Germany.-Biography:...
, Friedrich Ludwig Jahn
Friedrich Ludwig Jahn
Friedrich Ludwig Jahn was a German gymnastics educator and nationalist. He is commonly known as Turnvater Jahn, roughly meaning "father of gymnastics" Jahn.- Life :...
, Wilhelm Harnisch
Wilhelm Harnisch
Wilhelm Harnisch is the Chief Executive Officer of Master Builders Australia, the principal Australian Lobby Group for the building and construction industry. He is based in Canberra, Australia....
, Karl August Gottlieb Dreist, Ernst Wilhelm Bernhard Eiselen, Karl Friedrich von Klöden
Karl Friedrich von Klöden
Karl Friedrich von Klöden was a German educator, historian, and geographer.-Biography:The son of an officer from an old line of Markish nobility, he grew up in impoverished circumstances. In 1801, he went to work for his uncle, a goldsmith. He filled the gaps in his general education while...
, Friedrich Fröbel, and Ernst Ferdinand August. An ardent Pestalozzian, Plamann was sometimes in conflict with subordinates who attached more weight to the fundamental ideas of the new education than to a minute observance of its method, but he would give a free hand to those who showed capacity and life.
Plamann insisted that a boy was to be developed as a whole. Hence gymnastic exercises (those of Jahn and Eiselen) were freely inserted between the lessons. For a particular pupil, instruction was not spread from the outset over all subjects: the number of subjects taken up and the sequence in which they were pursued depended on the progress of the child.
The greatest stress in the educational program was laid on the formation of character. Plamann thought the aim of all education was to bring the training of the mind into harmony with the moral and religious training, which he thought could only be effected if the former is subordinated to the latter. Children were taught a higher regard for what has moral
Morality
Morality is the differentiation among intentions, decisions, and actions between those that are good and bad . A moral code is a system of morality and a moral is any one practice or teaching within a moral code...
or religious
Religion
Religion is a collection of cultural systems, belief systems, and worldviews that establishes symbols that relate humanity to spirituality and, sometimes, to moral values. Many religions have narratives, symbols, traditions and sacred histories that are intended to give meaning to life or to...
worth than for the most brilliant intellect
Intellect
Intellect is a term used in studies of the human mind, and refers to the ability of the mind to come to correct conclusions about what is true or real, and about how to solve problems...
ual achievements.
Plamann's institute was located originally in the middle of Berlin near the castle in the Unterwasserstrasse. The situation was chosen because it was from this quarter that the pupils, children of the higher and richer classes, were expected to be drawn, and, for the most part, actually came. But there was no suitable playground
Playground
A playground or play area is a place with a specific design for children be able to play there. It may be indoors but is typically outdoors...
attached, and the boys, to get fresher air, had to walk far through crowded streets. Hence in 1812 a new building was taken near the Halle Gate in the Wilhelmsstrasse (No. 130).
Bismarck
A pupil who later distinguished himself was Otto von BismarckOtto von Bismarck
Otto Eduard Leopold, Prince of Bismarck, Duke of Lauenburg , simply known as Otto von Bismarck, was a Prussian-German statesman whose actions unified Germany, made it a major player in world affairs, and created a balance of power that kept Europe at peace after 1871.As Minister President of...
. Bismarck learned gymnastics and geometry from Ernst Eiselen; Greek, Latin, and history from Schwarze; French from Le Fèvre; arithmetic from Beetz; writing from Markwort; natural history from Dietrich; singing from Kantor Tiedtke; and geography from Marias Schmidt. Schmidt came to be distinguished from the other Schmidts in Berlin as "Smith to His Majesty" , tutor to the royal court at Charlottenburg for 25 years. Plamann himself taught Bismarck German, and what is called in German schools religion.
Plamann prepared for the Tertia (the third from the Prima, the highest of the six grades of a Gymnasium), and it was for the Untertertia (the first year of the Tertias two-year course) that Bismarck left, in 1827, to enter the Friedrich-Wilhelm's Gymnasium. Bismarck is said to have bitterly complained about Plamann's institute as a child. Discipline was strict, and Eiselen and his exercises produced lasting and unpleasant memories in Bismarck's mind.