Page:The Great Didactic of John Amos Comenius (1896).pdf/154

 In Part II. we find a detailed account of the seven classes.

1. Over the door is placed the inscription:

2. The walls of the class-room are to appeal to the senses of the pupils, and should be covered with diagrams, illustrating the subjects taught in the class. These diagrams are to represent: (1) The Latin alphabet, in small and in capital letters. (2 and 3) Types of the declensions and conjugations. The beginner is to be allowed to look at these while repeating his grammar lesson, until he knows them so well that it is less trouble to repeat from memory than to tire his eyes by looking at the wall. (4) Short maxims containing the most important rules of conduct, which will thus be impressed on the memory of the class.

3. The religious exercises consist of the heads of the Catechism, together with a few short hymns and prayers.

4. The class-book is to be the Vestibulum, containing the chief matters on which the constitution of the universe hinges, the roots of the words on which language is dependent, the fundamental principles of intelligence, and a course of Moral Philosophy suited to children.

5. In mathematics the boys learn the elements of arithmetic; but no geometry, except the difference between a point and a line. In music they may learn the scale and the keys.

6. No special history-book is provided for this class. The Vestibulum is sufficient.

7. Exercises in style will here consist in the explanation of words, in translation and re-translation, and, near the end of the course, in joining the words together into sentences.

8. The only accessory studies are good hand-writing and drawing.