Page:The Great Didactic of John Amos Comenius (1896).pdf/153

 attention is to be paid to the formation of character as to the instilling of knowledge. Boys are to be urged to read for themselves out of school-hours, and among the books suggested for private study are the Dialogues of Erasmus and of Vives, since these are easy and require little explanation.

Great care must be taken not to overstrain the minds of the pupils. After each hour’s work they are to be allowed half an hour’s play, and after dinner and supper should rest for an hour at least. At night eight hours, from eight in the evening till four in the morning, must be set aside for sleep, and twice in the week, on Wednesday and on Sunday, a half-holiday is to be given. At Christmas, Easter, and Whitsuntide the boys may have a fortnight’s holiday, and in the Autumn a full month.

Comenius begs the reader not to consider this an excessive allowance of holidays. There still remain fortytwo weeks with thirty school-hours in each. This makes a total of 1260 hours, and by employing these rationally an immense amount of knowledge may be acquired in seven years. The general sketch concludes with a time-table to be employed throughout the whole school.

(i) 6–7. Hymns, Bible-reading, and prayers.

(ii) 7.30–8.30. 139 The principal subject of the class, theoretically treated.

(iii) 9–10. The same, treated practically.

(i) 1–2. Music, or some other pleasant mathematical exercise.

(ii) 2.30–3.30. History.

(iii) 4–5. Exercises of style.