Philanthropinum
Encyclopedia
The Philanthropinum was a reformist, progressive school in Dessau
, Germany from 1774–93.
(1724-1790), who was influenced by the ideas of Rousseau, and Christian Heinrich Wolke (1741-1825). At the beginning it had only one teacher and three students, but numbers rapidly grew as its reputation spread beyond Dessau. Prince Franz
supported the school, both financially and with his gift of the Palais Dietrich as a venue.
The Philanthropinum was, apart from Basedow and Wolke, also shaped by reformers such as Ernst Christian Trapp (1745-1818), the first Professor of Education, and Christian Gotthilf Salzmann
(1744-1811). From 1779-1787, August Friedrich Wilhelm Crome
(1753-1833) worked at the school. Artist, Carl Wilhelm Kolbe (1759-1835), taught art and French at the school from 1780-82 and 1782-84. Basedow and Wolke tried to persuade businessman and educational pioneer, Johann Peter Hundeiker (1751-1836), to teach at the school - he turned down their request, but went on to found his own school in Vechelde
near Braunschweig
inspired by the Dessau model. Poet Friedrich von Matthisson
and artist Friedrich Rehberg
also found employment here.
In 1776, Basedow stepped down as head of the institution. His successor was Joachim Heinrich Campe
(1746-1818), but he quit in 1777 due to conflict with the younger teachers, and went on to found a similar school in Hamburg. Afterwards the school was run by a board of directors. In 1777, Prince Franz made parts of the Palais Dietrich available for the use of the school, and from 1780 to 1793 the school was allowed to occupy the entire palace.
The first three students included Prince Frederick of Anhalt-Dessau
(1769-1814). At its peak in 1782-83, the Philanthropinum had 53 pupils, usually from families with enlightened parents, some of whom came from western, northern and eastern Europe. Immanuel Kant
was a great supporter of the school, calling for a "quick revolution" in education rather than "slow reform".
In 1793, the Philanthropinum closed, quietly, after the number of students decreased greatly The concept behind the school, however, was the model for a large number of similar establishments; In Germany alone, over 60 similar schools were founded: For example, Carl Gottfried Neuendorf (1750-1798), who had taught for a while at the Philanthropinum, went on to found the "Hauptschule" in Dessau in 1786; Christian Gotthilf Salzmann
(1744-1811) founded another school in Schnepfenthal. Other similar institutions were to be found in France, Switzerland, Russia and North America.
Dessau
Dessau is a town in Germany on the junction of the rivers Mulde and Elbe, in the Bundesland of Saxony-Anhalt. Since 1 July 2007, it is part of the merged town Dessau-Roßlau. Population of Dessau proper: 77,973 .-Geography:...
, Germany from 1774–93.
History
The philanthropinum, or "School of Philanthropy", was founded, on 27th December 1774, by the German educational reformers, Johann Bernhard BasedowJohann Bernhard Basedow
Johann Bernhard Basedow was a German educational reformer, teacher and writer. He founded the Philanthropinum, a short-lived but influential progressive school in Dessau, and was the author of "Elementarwerk", a popular illustrated textbook for children.-Early years:Basedow was born in Hamburg,...
(1724-1790), who was influenced by the ideas of Rousseau, and Christian Heinrich Wolke (1741-1825). At the beginning it had only one teacher and three students, but numbers rapidly grew as its reputation spread beyond Dessau. Prince Franz
Leopold III, Duke of Anhalt-Dessau
Leopold III Frederick Franz, Duke of Anhalt-Dessau , known as "Prince Franz" or "Father Franz", was a German prince of the House of Ascania...
supported the school, both financially and with his gift of the Palais Dietrich as a venue.
The Philanthropinum was, apart from Basedow and Wolke, also shaped by reformers such as Ernst Christian Trapp (1745-1818), the first Professor of Education, and Christian Gotthilf Salzmann
Christian Gotthilf Salzmann
Christian Gotthilf Salzmann was the founder of the Schnepfenthal institution, a school dedicated to new modes of education...
(1744-1811). From 1779-1787, August Friedrich Wilhelm Crome
August Friedrich Wilhelm Crome
August Friedrich Wilhelm Crome was a German economist and statistician, known particularly for his Producten-Karte von Europa , one of the first uses of cartograms.- Publications :...
(1753-1833) worked at the school. Artist, Carl Wilhelm Kolbe (1759-1835), taught art and French at the school from 1780-82 and 1782-84. Basedow and Wolke tried to persuade businessman and educational pioneer, Johann Peter Hundeiker (1751-1836), to teach at the school - he turned down their request, but went on to found his own school in Vechelde
Vechelde
Vechelde is a municipality in the district of Peine, in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is situated approx. 12 km southeast of Peine, and 10 km west of Braunschweig.- Municipal subdivisions :- Twinned cities :Vechelde is twinned with:...
near Braunschweig
Braunschweig
Braunschweig , is a city of 247,400 people, located in the federal-state of Lower Saxony, Germany. It is located north of the Harz mountains at the farthest navigable point of the Oker river, which connects to the North Sea via the rivers Aller and Weser....
inspired by the Dessau model. Poet Friedrich von Matthisson
Friedrich von Matthisson
Friedrich von Matthisson was a German poet.-Biography:He was born at Hohendodeleben near Magdeburg, the son of the village pastor, on the 23rd of January 1761. After studying theology and philology at the university of Halle, he was appointed in 1781 master at the classical school Philanthropinum...
and artist Friedrich Rehberg
Friedrich Rehberg
Friedrich Rehberg was a German portrait and historical painter.-Life and work:Rehberg was born into a middle-class protestant family in Hanover in 1758, the son of a secretary for the estates of Calenberg . His elder brother, August Wilhelm Rehberg , became a notable politician, philosopher and...
also found employment here.
In 1776, Basedow stepped down as head of the institution. His successor was Joachim Heinrich Campe
Joachim Heinrich Campe
Joachim Heinrich Campe was a German writer, linguist, educator and publisher.- Life :...
(1746-1818), but he quit in 1777 due to conflict with the younger teachers, and went on to found a similar school in Hamburg. Afterwards the school was run by a board of directors. In 1777, Prince Franz made parts of the Palais Dietrich available for the use of the school, and from 1780 to 1793 the school was allowed to occupy the entire palace.
The first three students included Prince Frederick of Anhalt-Dessau
Frederick, Hereditary Prince of Anhalt-Dessau
Frederick of Anhalt-Dessau , was a German prince of the House of Ascania and heir to the principality of Anhalt-Dessau....
(1769-1814). At its peak in 1782-83, the Philanthropinum had 53 pupils, usually from families with enlightened parents, some of whom came from western, northern and eastern Europe. Immanuel Kant
Immanuel Kant
Immanuel Kant was a German philosopher from Königsberg , researching, lecturing and writing on philosophy and anthropology at the end of the 18th Century Enlightenment....
was a great supporter of the school, calling for a "quick revolution" in education rather than "slow reform".
In 1793, the Philanthropinum closed, quietly, after the number of students decreased greatly The concept behind the school, however, was the model for a large number of similar establishments; In Germany alone, over 60 similar schools were founded: For example, Carl Gottfried Neuendorf (1750-1798), who had taught for a while at the Philanthropinum, went on to found the "Hauptschule" in Dessau in 1786; Christian Gotthilf Salzmann
Christian Gotthilf Salzmann
Christian Gotthilf Salzmann was the founder of the Schnepfenthal institution, a school dedicated to new modes of education...
(1744-1811) founded another school in Schnepfenthal. Other similar institutions were to be found in France, Switzerland, Russia and North America.