Schooling as a means of popular education: Pestalozzi's method as a popular education experiment

Johann Heinrich Pestalozzi promised his Method as a means of education for all that was easily manageable by mothers at home for early childhood, leading eventually to a wholesome person characterised by morality. In order to develop this Method, Pestalozzi published “Wie Gertrud ihre Kinder lehrt” (How Gertrud Teaches her Children) in 1801 and then his so‐called Elementary Books, especially the “Buch der Mutter” (Books for Mothers) in 1803. However, not only was home education to be reformed, but also the subsequent education in school. For this purpose Pestalozzi erected his institutes in Burgdorf, Munchenbuchsee, and Yverdon and fostered the publication of teaching manuals. The Method was advertised in the language of redemption for all. This article examines to what extent the promises made by Pestalozzi and his colleagues in his Institutes covered the interests of the consumers outside the Institutes. What was it that the parents of the students expected from the education in the Institutes? Were the...