Page:The Great Didactic of John Amos Comenius (1896).pdf/293



1. have already considered the means by which the educationist may attain his goal with certainty, we will now proceed to see how these means can be suited to the minds of the pupils, so that their use may be easy and pleasant.

2. Following in the footsteps of nature we find that the process of education will be easy

If it begin early, before the mind is corrupted.

If the mind be duly prepared to receive it.

If it proceed from the general to the particular.

And from what is easy to what is more difficult.

If the pupil be not overburdened by too many subjects.

And if progress be slow in every case.

If the intellect be forced to nothing to which its natural bent does not incline it, in accordance with its age and with the right method.

(viii) If everything be taught through the medium of the senses.

And if the use of everything taught be continually kept in view.

If everything be taught according to one and the same method.

These, I say, are the principles to be adopted if education is to be easy and pleasant.