Who was Johann Amos Comenius (J.A. Komenský)?

The choice of the name COMENIUS for this part of the SOCRATES programme is a reminder of Europe's rich educational heritage.

Johann Amos Comenius, or Jan Amos Komenský, was born in March 28^th , 1592 in Nivnice (Southeastmähren/ Czech Republic). His father’s dead was in 1602 and his mother’s in the following year. That’s why he moved to his aunt in Stráznice in 1603 and before he went to the latinschool in Prerau in 1608, which was finished in 1611. From 1611 till 1614 he studied at the universities of Herborn and Heidelberg. As teacher and principal, he taught and led his “own” latinschool from 1614 till 1618. In 1616 he became priest and did his work from 1618 till 1621 as preacher and teacher in Fulnek. ‘cause of the Thirty Year War, which began in 1618, he had to change his places from 1621 till 1628, where he stood. A new country decree for Mähren was the reason, why he moved in 1628 to Lissa in Poland, where he stayed until 1641. Comenius was also from 1641 till 1642 in London and the Netherlands. From 1642 till 1648 he worked for Sweden and helped for the education reforms, but when he was elected bishop of the university, in the same year, and when the Thirty Year War was finished, he returned to Lissa in 1648. In the following two periods of ten years the Czech theologian and pedagogical reformer had to move very often. In 1650 he left Lissa to Sárospatak for four years and then came for two years to Lissa back. When Lissa was burned in 1656 he was escaping for 14 years to Amsterdam, where he had in 1669 a quarrel with another theologian. Finally he died in Amsterdam in November 15^th , 1670. Jan Amos Komenský was buried in Naarden, not far from Amsterdam. He supported the christian education and the reforms of the school (pictures, not the teach of books), especially in the language instruction. He is best known for his contribution about teaching.   

by  Marvin Haggenmüller, LFR Oberderdingen, class  8a, January 2002

Note: If you want to know more about J.A. Comenius read the students statements

(links on left side)

Sources: 

• http://europa.eu.int/comm/education/socrates/comenius/moreabou.htm

• Microsoft ® Encarta ® Professional 2002. © 1993-2001 Microsoft Corporation.

• Microsoft® Encarta® Enzyklopädie 2002. © 1993-2001 Microsoft Corporation.

• Fackel Lexikon/ Fackelverlag/ Bibliographische Institut AG/ Mannheim/ 1972

• Großes Universal Lexikon/ Corvus Verlag/ Berlin/ 1976

• Lexikon der Weltgeschichte/ KAPP- Verlag OHG/ Bensheim/ 1977

• http://www.uni-koeln.de/phil-fak/paedsem/ (Image)

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