Grzegorz Piramowicz, ex-jesuit and one of the most outstanding workers of National
Education Committee, have great achievements on the fields of education by participating in the campain changing social conscience. The book "Techer''s
Duties" written by him in 1787 was supposed to be a textbook for parish schools
teachers, completing "Reading primer for parish schools" published by the Committee two years earlier. This book was supposed to be vademecum for working teachers and a textbook in teachers'' studies. Facing the changes in education Piramowicz presented parish school''s function, teacher''s role and teaching methods from completely new angle. "Teacher''s duties" encompass four issues of author''s interest: the teacher,
physical education, moral education, mental education. Also methods of teaching are important for Piramowicz. The author analyses the issues with details, supported by his long standing teaching experience, contacts with scholarship and pedagogilac ideas of the West and knowledge of ideological achievements of the Enlightedment.Part 1 is devoted to the
Teacher, whom Piramowicz sets some requirements, tasks and duties, lists possibilites of actions and aims which a teacher should achieve. He discusses also the role of mistresess - the country female teachers. Moreover, he mentions the issue of punishment and its usage and writes about teacher''s contacts with parents and his superiors.Part 2 is about physical education, the care of the body is considered as growing children''s physical strenght and keeping them healthy.In Part 3, about moral education, Piramowicz sets aim of acknowledging pupils with their duties (towards themselves, partents, teachers, homeland, God) and ways of fulfilling them. In this part we can also find author''s opinion about "teaching the holy faith" - a chapter about religious instruction of young
people.Part 4, describing mental education, focuses teaching practical skills (trade, craft, manufacturing), underlining the value of agriculture.The author differentiates his syllabus not only concerning the sex of pupils, but also uses two measures of gaining education: other truths are stated for the common people, other - for
feudal lords. His views on education were result of feudal-capitalistic compromise, because he suggest introducing capitalistic forms along with keeping the old feudal order. "Teacher''s Duties" - first practical textbook for people''s teacher made preparing teachers far more easier which was so nescessary in the author''s times, becoming also the guide for many generations of teachers.
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