Monitorial System

The Lancasterschule (also: Bell - Lancaster - school) was a school form of the 19th century, propagated especially the reciprocal teaching students.

Overview

The so-called Monitorialsystem foresaw that more experienced students should teach younger and thus grew increasingly to assist teachers. The reaction was conducted in a strongly marked by drill so-called sweeping system that allowed sitting in a divided not by year class of half of the students and the other half of the prescribed standing on the wall memorization.

The method goes back to the British educator Andrew Bell, the end of the 18th century already propagated the system of mutual instruction. It was implemented but only from the British Quaker Joseph Lancaster, who practiced the method in a school founded especially in Southwark. From England found the type in Italy, Bulgaria, Spain and France, in the early 19th century in Sweden, but less in Germany dissemination. In Switzerland, it was connected by its promotion especially with the name of the Franciscan Gregory Girard. Already in 1824 Pope Leo XII forbade. today the poisonous pedagogy calculated system for Catholic schools. In the following decade the Lancasterschulen then went under completely.