They came to see me, and after they had gone their personal
peculiarities and their previous teaching and training, with the
results, were fully described to me, and I was then consulted as to
their future education. Now to education as an object[51] I had in truth
never yet given a thought, and the question threw me into great
perplexity. Nevertheless it required an answer, and moreover a precise
answer.
In the life and circumstances of these lads I discovered frequent
similarities with my own boyhood, which sprang to my memory as I
listened. I could therefore answer the questions which were put to me
out of the development and educational experiences of my own life; and
my reply, torn as it was from actual life, keenly felt and vigorously
expressed, bore upon it the stamp of truth. It was satisfactory to the
parents; and education--development, which hitherto had been subjective
alone for me--that is, as self-development--now took an objective form,
a change which was distinctly painful to me. Long, long it was before I
could bring this business of education into a form expressible by words.
I only knew education, and I could only educate, through direct personal
association.
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