OBJECT TEACHING. A mode of teaching in which objects arc made the studies of young pupils. By this method a systematic attempt is made to exercise and train the senses of the child. Comenins (q.v.) in the Great Didactic writes: "Let the senses lie applied to the subject as often as possible. e.g. let hearing be joined with vision and the hand with speech. It is not enough to apply to the ears:, but the teacher must present to the eyes, that through them instruction may reach the imagination. Leave nothing till it has been impressed by means of the ear, the eye. the tongue, the band." His ()rids Pietas was the first school-book in which pictures were used to illustrate the various topics. In the work of omenius. therefore. is to be found the first clear II—cm:mon of the principles of object teaching.
i'?•••1:1101'11 (q.v.), however, may with justice be :oven the credit of introducing the method a a special feature of primary education. Since
rt...t h.izi all educators have agreed that the activity, manifested through the senses. should be directed to the things about hint. In this way, (1) the senses are trained. (2) his judgment is aroused, and (3) he acquires a language. The three must go together. Pes talozzi saw that in order to reach clear knowl edge of anything the mind must pass through Zi ..01111C1111. of processes. Fr011l perception it must rise through ideation to clear concepts. presentatilm of objects is not sutheient. There must be the inner reaction of the learner. There must he, therefore. (1 ) the sense-material. (2) the inner reaction. of mind. (3) the Consult: Itarimrd, Object Tv/wh iny (New York, !SIM) ; Manua/ of ylh,jnct Tcacitiiw 1S110 ) . See licsnEaoAirrEx: