J. B. Basedow is a German educational reformer who advocated the realistic teaching methods and the introduction of nature study, physical education, and manual training in the school. In 1768 Basedow published an acclaimed monograph demanding educati...
J. B. Basedow is a German educational reformer who advocated the realistic teaching methods and the introduction of nature study, physical education, and manual training in the school. In 1768 Basedow published an acclaimed monograph demanding educational reform and calling for creation of a laboratory school for training teachers in his methods. Basedow's views were influnced by the writings of J. A. Comenius, J. Locke, and J. J Rousseau. Basedow's 'Elementarwerk' or "Elements of Education", a study of encyclopedic world view as a part of elementary education, published in 1774 reflects those philanthropic thoughts and modern science education. He estabilished a philanthropic school in Dessau in 1774. In imitation of the school at Dessau institutions called Philanthropin were established at various places and those who held Basedow's pedagogical opinions were called Philanthropen, or Philanthropisten. The only Philanthropin that prospered and still exists was that founded by Salzmann at Schnepfenthal in the Duchy of Gotha. Christian Gotthilf Salzmann was one of the most distinguished pedagogues of the Philanthropinst school.
Basedows practical teaching methods had become by the early 19th century a fundamental force in Germany's public school systems. His reforms were widely influential and similar institutions were established throughout Germany and Switzerland.