Erasmus of Rotterdam is one of the leading figures of the Renaissance humanism. He wrote several influential works concerning upbringing and education. They contain his views about the correct forms of raising and teaching children that are necessary for obtaining optimal education. It should be based on acquiring an advanced knowledge of classical languages and on reading classical, which helps to form a child's character. In his works Erasmus often focuses on the optimal qualifications of a teacher, who needs to be well-read in a wide spectre of different disciplines. He needs to have a pleasant personality, so the children will be fond of him and the learning will be as efficient as possible. In his writings on education Erasmus follows the examples of writers from antiquity and renaissance, as he considers the education of the middle ages to be of inferior quality. The present master thesis also contains a translation of Erasmus' handbook for teachers, titled On the method of study, which contains author's views on various aspects of education.
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