E labyrinthis exitus

E scholasticis labyrinthis exitus in planum sive Machina didactica mechanice constructa ad non haerendum amplius (in docendi et discendi muniis), sed progrediendum

The exit from the scholastic labyrinth onto the open plain, or A mechanically constructed didactic machine, which enables (with work from teachers and pupils) thereafter not to hesitate, but to move forward

Origin of the work:
  1656 – 1657

Editions:
  1657 Amsterdam, Opera didactica omnia IV

1872 Prague; in the journal Škola a život, p193 ff., Czech translation by F. J. Zoubek

1956 Prague, in: Scholarum reformator pansophicus. Pansofický vychovatel, (Latin & Czech); Czech translation by J. Patočka

1957 Prague, Opera didactica omnia IV (phototype edition)

1960 Vybrané spisy J. A. Komenského, vol. II, Czech translation by J. Patočka

Contents:

Comenius returns again to his favourite myth from Antiquity, that of the Cretan labyrinth and Ariadne’s thread. Schools too are a labyrinth, a maze with no fixed destination or good methods. The correct method is that which is founded on human nature. In teaching, the point of departure should be a knowledge of nature and of the human condition. It is given to Man that he seek after truth and knowledge. The school should make use of this, creating an effective, certain and exact method of work whereby the acquisition of knowledge is based on practice.

For further study, see also:

Vybrané spisy J.A. Komenského, vol. II. Prague 1960, p487

Jan Kumpera, J. A. Komenský, poutník na rozhraní věků. Prague & Ostrava 1992, pp234-235