Einige Gedanken über Erziehung

How do we properly educate children and adolescents? How can we guide a new generation to learn voluntarily, joyfully, sustainably, and with enthusiasm? What constitutes good education? The Enlightenment thinker John Locke still conveys fundamental insights that have retained their pedagogical significance over the centuries. This is a classically modern plea for a playful, joyful, and emancipatory education towards maturity. Locke's book on education is the original text of modern educational understanding. In the subsequent centuries, all educational reformers and pedagogical visionaries of democratic society have referenced this treatise by the great English physician and educational philosopher—whether it be the Genevan republican Jean-Jacques Rousseau, the Prussian parliamentarian Adolph Diesterweg, or the American John Dewey. No educational concept from the Enlightenment era is as relevant today as Locke's hopeful ideal of the independent learner, who wishes to continue their education out of pure curiosity and joy in acquiring knowledge, motivated by good teachers. Lifelong learning thus lies at the heart of Locke's educational concept. This vision remains valid. For we can only meaningfully discuss education and upbringing in a democratic and free society today if we thoughtfully heed the most important postulates and ideas from the significant sources and foundational texts of modern liberal educational understanding. In celebration of the 125th anniversary of the Klett Group, a series of timelessly relevant works in pedagogy and educational philosophy will be published starting in 2022.