The Encyclopedia Americana (1920)/Sturm, Johannes

STURM, or STURMIUS, Johannes, German educator: b. near Cologne, 1 Oct. 1507; d. 3 March 1589. In 1537 he founded the gymnasium in Strassburg which attained world-wide celebrity. He was generally regarded as the greatest educator connected with the Reformed Church. Sturm's ideal in education was &ldquo;to direct the aspiration of the scholars toward God, to develop their intelligence, and to render them useful citizens by teaching them the skill to communicate their thoughts and sentiments with persuasive effect.&rdquo; In carrying out this ideal Sturm showed his superiority by his judicious gradation of the course of study, and by his novel and attractive methods of instruction. His influence has been potent in the German system of secondary education down to our own day.