Long shot. I’m not a historian of pedagogy, but I’m trying to trace the idea of children being predisposed/inclined (natural abilities) towards certain subjects. For instance, Latin, some thinkers say there’s no point forcing children disinclined towards Latin to spend a lot of time on Latin, but instead let them focus on what they’re inclined towards. What is the history of this idea in pedagogy? When and where does it appear first?
@leifhammer@ASECS@histodons@Chanders two possible strands - the learner centred curriculum centred stuff mentioned above. But you might also want to glance at the history of intelligence and the idea that there are different kinds of intelligence people are born with (which will fit them for studying different stuff) - probably fair to start with Thurstone. Also, a warning - this was a very eugenicist, racist era in education/psychology.
Thank you! What about earlier less formalised ideas about it? The source material where I've noticed this cropping up is from the early and late eighteenth century
@leifhammer@ianrogers@ASECS@histodons educational reformers used those figures to argue against the traditional Latinate rhetorical training of children
@mazdam@leifhammer@ASECS@histodons Ah yes, Rousseau's Noble Savage vs the corruption of civilization theory. That fuelled a LOT of thought for a very long time.
I've only read a little Rousseau many years ago, should be interesting to pick him up again. Looking briefly at the scholarship on the person who wrote one of the sources that spurred this for me, seems people doubt any Lockean influence, but no word so far on Rousseau. Will be interesting to delve into this
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