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THE GREAT DIDACTIC OF COMENIUS

Class III.—The Atrial

1. Over the door is to be written:

“Let no one enter who cannot speak.”

2. The walls are to be covered with ingenious diagrams, and with select maxims relative to the adornment of speech.

3. In this class the boys should begin to read the Bible; but not as it stands. An abridged form, suited to their intelligence, should be given to them, and a portion of this must be expounded daily.

4. The class-books are the Atrium of the Latin language, the Grammar of Elegance, and the Latin-Latin dictionary, especially written for the Atrium.

5. In arithmetic the boys may learn multiplication, division, and the table of Cebes. In geometry, solid figures. In music, harmony. The rudiments of Latin verse may be taught, together with selections from Cato, Ovid, and Tibullus.

6. The history for this class is the famous deeds of the Biblical narrative.

7. Exercises of style consist in making paraphrases and in transposing sentences. No boy may attempt to write verse until he has been in the class eleven months.

8. It will be sufficient accessory study if the boys read attentively and imitate what they read. They should be able to read any Latin author, and to talk Latin fluently by the time they leave this class.

9. Recreation to be taken at fixed hours.

10. For dramatic purposes the Schola Ludus is provided.

Class IV.—The Philosophical

1. Over the door is to be written:

“Let no one ignorant of history enter here.”

2. The walls should be adorned with pictures illustra-