How Gertrude Teaches her Children. Translated from the German of
Pestalozzi by Lucy E. Holland and Frances C. Turner. Edited, with Introduction and Notes, by Ebenezer Cooke. (Swan Sonnensehein and Co.)—Pestalozzi's book was published in October, 1801, when the author was in his fiftieth year. It has never been translated in its entirety into English. Indeed, we are given to understand that no one but the practical Pestalozzian can rightly understand it. Some of the terms have no proper equivalents in England, and can only be appreciated—so the editor tells us—by following his train of thought. Certainly, notwithstanding the simplicity of the title, the book will not be found easy reading. At the same time, it is obviously of high value. The editor prefixes an interesting introduction, partly historical, and partly vindicatory of Pestalozzi from hostile criticisms that have been made on his principles and 'methods.— It will be interesting to compare with the volume noticed above that contains a copious exposition of the same subject, The Principles and Practice of Teaching and Class Management, by Joseph Landor (Alfred M. Holden). Mr. Landor is eminently practical. The objects and methods of teaching, varieties of lessons, " teaching devices " (with the various headings of " Questions," " Ellipses," "Illustrations," " Lectures," " Fixing Devices "), and Class Management are successively discussed. He then takes the various subjects of elementary education, and gives practical details of the most effective ways of teaching them. This seems to us, as far as we have been able to examine it, a complete and careful manual.
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