Mátej Bel’s Pedagogical Work

The author dedicates her article to the 300th anniversary of Matej Bel’s birth. Matej Bel (22nd March 1684-2 9 th August 1749) was an outstanding Slovak scholar, polyhistorian, educationist and school reformer. The introductory part of the study briefly deals with Bel’s studies and his work as a teacher. The author then writes about the pedagogy of pietism and its influence on Matej Bel. She deals with M. Bel’s pedagogical reforms at the evangelical grammar school at Banská Bystrica and Bratislava. While he was at Banská Bystrica (1708—1714) the number of the pupils of the school doubled and the excellent reputation of the school spread beyond the boundaries of central Slovakia. In his practical pedagogical work he drew on the pedagogical ideas of A. H. Francké and J. A. Comenius. Bel was also very successful as a teacher in Bratislava (1714—1719). Under his rectorship the local evangelical grammar school attained remarkable educational results. Immediately after his arrival at this school he carried out its reform, worked out a notable teaching plan in which, in addition to classical education, he laid a great emphasis on the teaching of science subjects. He even worked out education laws in which he deals with the duties of the rector, his deputy and the pupils. The author analyses and appraises in detail these important pedagogical documents, which testify to Bel’s pedagogical erudition and his interest in improving the educational process. She also highlights Bel’s merits in establishing the so-called „ulitchny*' schools in Bratislava which were designed for girls from eight years of age and where the teaching was in the schoolgirls’ mother tongue.
The author pays due attention to Matej Bel’s work as a textbook writer and scholar. She mentions textbooks and scientific works which made him famous not only in Hungary, but also abroad. Concluding the article, she appraises positively the pedagogical and scientific works of the „great adornment of Hungary“ (magnum decus Hungariae).