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jüngste Beiträge in »Der Wunsch nach Frieden«


26. February 2013

Pestalozzi’s Biography for children


Based on documents presented by Adolf Haller and Arthur Brühlmeier, rewritten by Heinrich Rubi, translated into English by Anne-Marie Widmer, with examples of Pestalozzi’s ‘Fables’ added from Roger de Guimps’s ‘Pestalozzi, His Life and Work’

1980:

A young couple is strolling along the streets of a Swiss town. Now and then they stop in front of a shop window. In particular, the jewellery shops fascinate them.

“Do you like that ring over there, darling?”

“The one with the diamonds?”

“Yes, that one.”

“It’s a beautiful ring, but isn’t it too expensive?”

“No, it’s not too expensive for our wedding.”

Next to them is a young beggar, almost a child, unkempt, in torn jeans. Her cheeks are hollow and her eyes are vacant.

“A junkie!” they think and step back a bit.

“Can you spare me a franc?” the young beggar asks.

The young man places himself protectively in front of his girlfriend and, losing his temper, snaps at the beggar,

“Get lost! I’m not Mr. Pestalozzi.”

1780:

A man is on his way to Basel, on foot, wearing a worn-out coat. The man has money problems. He is carrying the manuscript of a book that he has written in the pocket of his coat. He wants to show it to a friend in Basel. In front of the city gate there sits a crippled beggar, stretching out his hand.

“Sir, some coins, please!”

The man rummages through the pockets of his coat, searching for coins. He does not find any. Embarrassed he looks down at the ground. He then sees the silver buckles on his shoes. He bends down, takes the buckles off and places them in the beggar’s hand. Then he looks for a few strong blades of grass in the field nearby and, as well as he can, ties his shoes with them.

The man’s name is Heinrich Pestalozzi.

Pestalozzi’s Childhood and Early Years in Zurich

read the full article here:
http://www.bruehlmeier.info/